Storm Doris to lash UK with damaging winds to 80 mph, disruptive snow

By Jordan Root, AccuWeather meteorologist

February 22,2017, 11:43:04PM,EST

 

 

Storm Doris will unleash a quick-hitting shot of strong wind gusts, blustery showers and disruptive snow on the United Kingdom on Wednesday night into Thursday.
The first named storm to target the U.K. since Christmas spread wind-driven rain over Northern Ireland on Wednesday night. The worst of the rain, wind and snow in southern Scotland, England and Wales will occur from early Thursday to the early afternoon hours.

After being blasted by strong winds on Wednesday, northern Scotland will escape fury of Doris.
"Storm Doris will quickly move across the United Kingdom with its worst impacts confined to six hours or less in many communities, but those impacts can still prove to be very disruptive and potentially damaging to residents," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
The strongest winds of Doris will focus on the corridor from Blackpool and Liverpool to Manchester to Norwich.
"While there can be gusts in excess of 50 mph (80 km/h) in Belfast, Doris will strengthen to produce gusts of 60 to 70 mph (97 to 113 km/h) across North West England, the northern coast of Wales and the Midlands on Thursday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
"There can even be gusts to 80 mph at the coast and in the hills," she said.

"These strong wind gusts could cause tree damage and power cuts," AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards warned.
Some structural damage could even ensue, and falling trees may cause additional damage or bodily harm. Rail and air travel can be disrupted, while drivers of high-sided vehicles will face dangerous crosswinds.
Brollies will be needed early Thursday, but strong winds may make it tough for them to be used at times.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph (80 km/h) will whip southern England, which could also disrupt travel on Thursday morning. Blustery showers will lower visibility at times, leading to slower traffic.
Those taking to the air at London's Heathrow Airport may face delays or even cancellations on Thursday morning.
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As Doris strengthens, it will tap into enough cold air for snow to fall in southern Scotland and the north of England.
"The heaviest snow will be measured in the Southern Uplands and Cheviot Hills, where 10-20 cm (4-8 inches) with locally higher amounts are expected," Pydynowski said. "This snow will come down heavily and rapidly clog roads."
Whiteouts, caused by the heavy rate of snowfall and gusty winds whipping the snow around, will further make travel extremely difficult, if not impossible for a time.
Snow may not be confined to the hills. A minor settling, generally on the order of a coating to 2 cm (an inch), cannot be ruled out in a few of the lower elevations. This includes Glasgow and Edinburgh.

"The way that the lower elevations will get snow to settle is if the intensity of the precipitation is hard enough that any rain falls as snow and it quickly settles for a period of time," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
The majority of any settling snow in the lower elevations would be on grassy and elevated surfaces. However, roads could turn slushy for a brief time during the heaviest snowfall.
Snow and winds will quickly decrease by Thursday evening, but it will continue to be breezy into Friday.
An end to the stormy weather will not come with the departure of Doris.
"A new system will sweep through the U.K. later on Friday into Saturday with another spell of rain and wind. Scotland may be subject to the heaviest rain and wind gusts to around 50 mph (80 km/h), mainly along western coastal and exposed areas," Pydynowski said.