When will Storm Helene hit the UK?

Storm Helene looks set to cause disruption when it hits UK shores tonight, with high winds buffeting coastal areas on the Irish Sea.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning - which means “be aware” - across the north of England, Northern Ireland, the southwest of Scotland and Lothian Borders, Strathclyde, Yorkshire and Humber, Wales and the southwest of England, reports Sky News.

“Winds are likely to gust into the 40s or low 50s mph quite widely across the warning area,” the news site says. “In some Irish Sea coastal areas, most likely in Wales and northwest England, gusts between 55mph and 65mph are likely, with possible isolated gusts in excess of 70mph in the most exposed places.

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“High gusts in the 50s or low 60mph area are also possible over high ground in northern England during the early hours of Tuesday.”

The Met Office had said on Friday that the storm could bring hazardous conditions when it travels through the north of England, Wales and Ireland.

But the majority of the strong winds are now expected to be felt over the Irish Sea only, on Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

“Helene is still over the Atlantic but it’s weakening and we’re a lot more confident of what’s going to happen,” a Met Office spokesperson told The Independent.

“The centre of the storm will go up through the middle of Ireland and most of the strong winds will be in the Irish Sea and to the west of Scotland.”

The storm is not thought to pose a risk to life, the spokesperson added.

Helene is “due to bring unseasonably warm weather in London and the Southeast”, as the low pressure draws up warm air from the south, adds Metro.

Some areas may see highs of around 26C (78.8F)- above 7C or 8C above the average for this time of year.