Storm Lilian hour by hour forecast for UK as Met Office issue warnings

A storm has smashed parts of the country this morning with heavy rain and strong winds as millions prepare getaways for the bank holiday weekend.

Storm Lilian, announced by the Met Office on Thursday, is set to bring gusts of up to 80mph – with travel disruption, flooding, power cuts and dangerous conditions near coastal areas all likely. The forecaster has issued two new yellow weather warnings for rain in south-west Scotland and the Aberdeenshire coast from 9pm on Thursday to 9am Friday.

There is the possibility of thunder, while 20-30mm of rainfall is expected widely across both areas – with a chance of 40-50mm over higher ground. A yellow wind warning has also been issued covering northern England and north Wales from 5am to 11am on Friday, with the storm widely expected to bring gusts of 50-60mph in the region.

It comes after large parts of Scotland and northern England faced heavy rain and strong winds on Wednesday. Two yellow winds warnings covering northern Wales and northern England, including both Cumbria and Northumberland, were already in place on Thursday morning.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: “Storm Lillian is an area of low pressure which is going to be drifting towards the UK from the west and bringing some strong winds and some heavy rain in the early hours of Friday and through Friday morning as well.”

Lilian is the 12th named storm of the season – the furthest the Met Office have got through the list since it was introduced – and the first since April. Storms are named when they have the potential to cause disruption or damage which could result in an amber or red warning, the Met Office said.

Lillian’s influence will “wane” by Friday afternoon as it reduces in intensity and pushes off into