The Met Office has issued a warning as Storm Erin, currently intensifying in the Atlantic Ocean, is set to bring violent winds and heavy rain to the UK, ending the recent heatwave. The storm has already caused devastation in the Cape Verde islands, where a state of emergency was declared after nine people died and around 1,500 were forced to flee their homes.
According to the Met Office's long-range forecast for August 19 to 28, high pressure will likely be displaced northwards, allowing low-pressure systems from the Atlantic to bring stronger winds and rain, particularly to southern and western areas. The behaviour of Tropical Storm Erin will be a key factor in the forecast, as it progresses into the North Atlantic.
The National Hurricane Centre has warned that Erin could strike the Leeward Islands, Bermuda, or the US east coast. The Met Office noted that tropical systems can be picked up by the jet stream, potentially bringing wet and windy weather to the UK, though the exact impact depends on the storm's position relative to the jet stream.
Forecasters advise that conditions will become more uncertain beyond Monday, largely due to Erin's development. While temperatures are expected to remain above average, with possible hot spells in the south, the storm marks a significant change from the recent heatwave that saw London reach 33.4°C on August 12.
