A vicious storm system is expected in the west on Friday with the potential for destruction, damage and widespread travel disruption with winds well over 80mph, potentially as high as 95mph in northern and western Ireland where the worst of the winds will be. Winds will begin to intensify into the early hours of Friday across southern Ireland and south west England before advancing slowly north eastwards through the day – reaching Wales and the rest of Ireland through the morning and Scotland into the afternoon.
It will also be windy across much of England and Wales, especially in the west with gusts over 50mph, perhaps even 60mph locally which could produce some minor travel disruption, but certainly not on the scale possible across much of Ireland, western Scotland and across the Irish sea. Wind speeds up the Irish sea could approach 80mph leading to likely cancellations of ferry services, with Ireland and western Scotland bearing the “brunt” of the storm with heavy showers and very vicious winds however.