UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for strong winds affecting northern and western Scotland from Thursday evening until Friday morning, with gusts up to 80 mph expected in exposed areas. Further disruptions from heavy rain and winds are forecast across England and Wales over the weekend, amid milder temperatures turning colder.
Met Office issues yellow wind warnings
As reported by the BBC Weather team, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds across northern and western Scotland, effective from 4:00 PM GMT on Thursday, November 27, 2025, until 11:00 AM GMT on Friday. Wind gusts of 60-70 mph are likely, with more exposed places potentially seeing gusts up to 80 mph, leading to disruptions such as ferry delays around the Northern and Western Isles, falling tree branches, and possible power outages.
Meteorologist Clare Nasir of the Met Office, cited in The Sun, described the conditions as featuring “a gusty breeze and rain showers,” noting that cloud cover advancing overnight from the Atlantic would intensify winds by Friday, accompanied by rain and subsequent showers. She attributed the weather shift to a ridge overnight causing a rapid temperature drop, with sub-zero conditions possible in parts of the West Midlands and central Wales reaching -4°C.
Impacts and safety advice
The Met Office warned of short-term power losses, delays to road, air, and ferry services, and hazards from large waves along coastal areas. Coastal residents were advised to be aware of powerful waves that could knock people off balance even from the shore, and those near cliffs should plan routes carefully and keep dogs on leads. In emergencies, dialling 999 for the Coastguard was recommended.
Disruption is expected from strong winds from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, with a good chance of longer journey times or cancellations, as per BBC Weather warnings. Very strong southwesterly winds will develop during Thursday evening, prompting the warning level increase, according to Met Office updates last checked at 11:11 UTC on Thursday.
Weekend forecast and further risks
Looking ahead, a developing weather system will bring heavy rain and strengthening winds to England and Wales on Saturday, with uncertainties in the exact path but heavy rain likely in eastern England. A robust north to northeasterly wind is forecast from Saturday into Sunday, particularly affecting eastern England with gusts of 50-60 mph.
The Met Office long-range outlook for early December indicates variable and unsettled conditions with heavy rain, strong winds, and potential snowfall in higher northern regions. Temperatures overall are likely to remain above or slightly above average, following the current milder spell from Azores air propelled by a low-pressure system north of the UK.
Recent weather context
Thursday saw temperatures up to 17°C higher than Wednesday morning, around 5-6°C above late November averages, defying typical winter onset on December 1. Northern Scotland faces the strongest impacts overnight, with gusts possibly exceeding 75 mph, as tweeted by the Met Office. This follows patterns of unsettled weather, including prior warnings for Storm Claudia’s heavy rain and gusty winds up to 61 mph in northwest England and Wales.
An unsettled week ahead includes more warnings likely, with slow-moving rain bands building large totals across central UK areas and gusty easterly winds on high ground. Video forecasts confirm very strong gusts across western and northern Scotland under the yellow warning, likely disrupting travel.
Broader implications
The warnings highlight ongoing variability into the weekend, with showers or prolonged rain and strong winds in the north. Maximum temperatures on Sunday are predicted at 3-9°C, with frost days possible in Scotland where temperatures stay below freezing. Residents are urged to stay weather-aware via Met Office resources.