Storm Abigail: UK to be battered by first weather system strong enough to be given human name

Early arrival: Waves batter the seafront at Blackpool ahead of the storm's arrival
Christopher Furlong/Getty
Robin de Peyer10 November 2015

The UK is set to be battered this week by the first storm strong enough to be given a human name, the Met Office has said.

Storm Abigail is the first weather system to be given a name as part of forecasters’ “name our storm” project.

Weather systems are being given names when they are deemed to have the potential to have a substantial impact on the UK or Ireland.

The Met Office has issued a national severe weather warning of a risk of disruption ahead of the storm’s arrival on Thursday evening and into Friday.

Forecasters said the north and north-west of Scotland are likely to see severe south-westerly gales later on Thursday with strong winds extending across the Northern Isles through into Friday morning.

The forecasters said gusts of 60 to 70 miles per hour are expected, with some gusts of more than 80mph in exposed locations, before winds begin to ease across the Western Isles and the mainland on Friday morning and across the Northern Isles that afternoon.

London is also expected to be hit with stronger winds and rain towards the end of the week.

Eddy Carroll, chief meteorologist, said: "There remains some uncertainty regarding the exact extent and timing of strongest winds but current forecasts suggest that this storm could have some medium impacts such as disruption to transport and so a warning has been issued and the first storm has been named as Abigail."

It is hoped the "name our storms" project by the Met Office and Met Eireann will help raise awareness of severe weather and ensure greater safety of the public.

Abigail is the first on the list of winning names, followed by Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon and Wendy.

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