Hurricane Humberto is barreling toward the UK and could unleash the first named storm of the season this weekend. The Category 4 hurricane, which reached peak intensity of 160mph winds on Saturday, is tracking northeast across the Atlantic and expected to bring potentially severe weather to Britain.
The storm is currently moving northwest toward Bermuda before turning into the North Atlantic by Tuesday or Wednesday. Weather experts warn that Humberto's remnants could spark major disruption across the UK, particularly in northern and western regions.
Storm Amy threat emerges
The hurricane's remnants could trigger Storm Amy - the first named storm of the UK season - with winds reaching up to 70mph. British Weather Services meteorologist Jim Dale said: "Storm Amy looks destined to unfold off the ashes of Humberto on Friday or Saturday, if it all goes to plan. There will be lots of wind and rain."
Dale warned the storm could be significant, with potential for "50-70mph winds, and 30-60mm rain" affecting northern and western areas most severely. The exact positioning remains uncertain as the storm develops.
Friday evening arrival expected
Current forecasts suggest the storm will reach British soil by Friday evening around 7pm, making landfall in Northern Ireland first. Wales and Scotland are expected to be hit hours later, with Glasgow and Bangor potentially seeing the highest wind speeds topping 70mph during Saturday's early hours.
Northern Scotland could experience the heaviest rainfall, with nearly 30mm predicted within three hours from 4am Saturday. The storm should pass into the North Sea by Saturday afternoon, though northern Scotland may see a brief return of 60mph winds Sunday morning.
Met Office confirms impact
The Met Office has officially acknowledged Humberto's likely influence on UK weather patterns. The forecaster stated: "As Hurricane Humberto moves into the North Atlantic and loses its tropical characteristics, this will likely have an influence on the UK's weather, with the potential for wet and very windy conditions around the first weekend of October."
Additional Atlantic tropical storm activity remains possible before the season ends, making precise forecasting increasingly challenging. Tropical Storm Imelda has also formed near the Bahamas and is strengthening, potentially affecting storm trajectories across the region.
Sources used: "Mirror", "Daily Record", "Guardian", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
