Gusts of up to 80mph could hit Northern Ireland at the weekend, the Met Office is warning.
A yellow weather warning has been issued across all of the UK, with forecasters saying that “very strong winds may bring disruption to parts of the UK later this weekend”.
The Met Office told Belfast Live the weather system behind the warning is still too far out to sea to make precise forecasts, but added that there are likely to be winds of 50 to 60mph as well as “isolated” gusts of 70 to 80mph in exposed hills and coastal areas.
The yellow level alert comes into force at 6pm on Saturday and will last until midnight at the end of Sunday.
The Met Office added: “Heavy rain will be an additional hazard, especially over western hills. Winds of this strength across a wide area have the potential to produce disruption to transport, along with some coastal impacts, especially in the west.”
They also said that across the UK there could be “some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport” and that “coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities affected by spray and/or large waves”.
There is a “small chance that some roads and bridges could close” or that “power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage”.
In the Republic of Ireland, Met Éireann has not issued a warning. Their online forecast states: “Saturday will start mostly dry with sunny spells but is likely to turn wet and windy or even very windy from the Atlantic during the day. Staying unsettled for the rest of the weekend and into early next week with heavy rain or showers along with strong winds occurring and possibly turning stormy.”
