BBC Weather warns second storm to follow Austen as maps show heavy rain and snow

BBC Weather warns second storm to follow Austen as maps show heavy rain and snow Storm Austen is expected to drift away from the UK into the North Sea late on Friday, but now weather forecasters say another ‘deep area of low pressure’ will follow on Saturday Forecasters have named the first storm of the season, Austen, which is expected to batter the UK from Thursday - and a second nasty weather front now appears set to follow immediately after. The Met Office has already issued amber and yellow weather warnings for strong winds ahead of Austen’s arrival. Areas across Wales and southern England could see wind speeds of up to 70mph from midnight on Thursday to 2pm on Friday, while heavy rain is expected across much of the rest of the country. However, BBC Weather forecasters now say another storm could follow on Saturday after Austen clears away into the North Sea late on Friday. Although it is “not expected to be as severe as Austen” and thus is unlikely to be named, the BBC says, this “deep area of low pressure” could bring gusts of 80mph to western parts of Scotland. “Delays or cancellations to ferries and restrictions on bridges” are possible for Scotland, the BBC forecast adds. “It will turn windy elsewhere across the UK throughout Saturday with heavy rain spreading east for most of us.” Weather modelling maps now also show this second storm. The ECMWF model shows heavy rain making landfall in South Wales, the south-west of England and western Scotland at around midday on Saturday. Some of the precipitation may also fall as snow over higher ground in northern Scotland, the maps suggest. By 6pm, the maps show western Scotland, the north-west of England, almost all of Wales and the south coast being drenched by rain. Some rain could persist into Sunday too, impacting northern and western areas. Once again, the maps show some snow is possible on Sunday, in western Scotland and the Lake District. Met Office weather forecast The Met Office says Storm Austen will begin to approach the UK on Thursday, invigorated by the jet stream. It will then move from west to east through Friday, with winds “generally diminishing” later in the day. As well as potential winds of up to 70mph along coasts in southern England and Wales, the Met Office says rain is an “additional hazard”. As much as 20-30mm could fall in many places, with higher totals possible over higher ground in the west and further north. The Met Office adds: “While Storm Austen’s influence will wane late on Friday as it moves into the North Sea, further periods of wind and rain are likely through the weekend and into the start of next week, with the heaviest rain more likely in western areas.”