Storm Bert named by Met Office as 70mph winds, snow and rain to batter UK

Storm Bert has been named by the Met Office ahead of 70mph winds, snow and rain battering the UK this weekend.

After a freezing Arctic snap this week, more wintry showers are expected for much of the country this weekend as the storm sweeps in on Saturday. Storm Bert, which is the second named of the season, is expected to bring 'heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend', forecasters said.

A Met Office yellow warning of snow and ice is in place across northern Scotland until midday on Thursday, with 2-5cm of snow expected fairly widely. A new alert has also been issued warning of snow and ice for much of Scotland, northern England, including in Greater Manchester, and parts of western and eastern England and Wales between midday on Thursday and 10am on Friday.

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Forecasters predict that while temperatures will rise over the weekend, some areas will be battered with 70mph winds, while snow showers and heavy rain is also likely to cause disruption.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: "Storm Bert marks a shift to much milder air and wintry hazards will gradually diminish through the weekend, but heavy snowfall is expected across parts of northern England and Scotland for a time on Saturday, especially over higher ground, and warnings are in place.

"Heavy rain through Saturday and Sunday, especially in southern and western parts of the UK, will also bring impacts for some with a number of warnings in place. We expect 50-75 mm of rainfall quite widely within the warning areas, but in excess of 100 mm is possible over high ground in parts of Wales and southwest England.

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