Storm Fionn: When will the huge storm hit the UK? Weather bomb to batter Britain – latest

An area of low pressure is currenty moving across the Atlantic and is set to unleash up to 80mph winds on Britain on Wednesday night into Thursday. 

The storm system could become a weather bomb if it strengthens through a process known as ‘explosive cyclogenesis’ on its way across Britain. 

As the storm tracks east across the UK on Wednesday night, it is forecast to bring a heavy spell of snow to Scotland and the North of England. 

Britain faces the risk of life-threatening flying debris, power cut, bridge closures, damage to buildings and rail and felly cancellations. 

The Met Office confirmed that the storm has not yet reached the criteria needed for the next named storm of the season: Storm Fionn. 

But a Met Office spokeswoman said they are “keeping an eye” on the storm as it moves across the Atlantic towards the UK this week. 

She said: “There’s a low pressure system crossing the Atlantic which will cross the UK Wednesday night into Thursday.

“That low pressure system will bring strong winds but also the potential for some snow on its northern edge.” 

The national weather service has issued a yellow level wind warning for the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as part of Scotland. 

The ‘be aware’ warning of “very strong winds” will come into force at 9pm on Wednesday and last until 1pm on Thursday. 

The strongest gusts of winds could reach 60mph to 70mph quite widely and there is a chance of gusts reaching 80mph in the most exposed places. 

Another yellow warning of snow will come into force across Scotland and the North of England from 6pm on Wednesday to 9am on Thursday. 

As much as three inches of snow could fall in the places within the warning zone with up to eight inches forecast over high ground. 

The term explosive cyclogenesis is used when the central pressure of a storm drops by more than 24 millibars in 24 hours. 

The Met Office said there is “the potential” for this to happen as the deepening area of low pressure crosses Britain on Wednesday night into Thursday. 

Met Office Chief Forecaster Frank Saunders said: “By Wednesday we have a number of severe weather warnings in place with widespread wintry showers for many, snow likely at low levels in the north of the UK and over high ground in the south. 

“During Wednesday night a low-pressure system is expected to move across the UK bringing the potential for strong winds to many parts of the UK, and more snow to Scotland, all of which could cause disruption in places. 

“There is still some uncertainty as to the exact track this weather system will take across the country and so there is some uncertainty about the exact areas that will see the worst of the weather.”