UK storm maps show exact time snow and up to 90mph gales will hit UK

Batten down the hatches and wrap up warm, as UK weather maps show the exact time snow and up to 90mph gale-Storm Eowyn will blast Britain.

Pronounced ‘Ay-oh-win’, it’s the fifth winter storm of the season and named after a brave heroine in Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings trilogy, in the films played by actress Miranda Otto.

But the Met Office has warned there is nothing angelic about her weather as she puts lives at risk with terrifying winds set to smash northern Britain on Friday and into Saturday.

Shocking maps by WXCharts.com show gusts of more than 80mph that could cause power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings as Eowyn threatens major travel disruption and power lines chaos – with danger to life caused by flying debris.

Eowyn first brings unsettled conditions on Thursday, but quickly the winds strengthen as heavy rainfall soaks swathes of western UK overnight into Friday, making landfall on the west coast of Britain at around 3am.

Now the Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning from midnight on Friday across most of the UK, including the south-west of England, the Midlands, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, as the storm sweeps through the country.

Experts warn of 80mph winds – but Sky News meteorologist Joanna Robinson warned of up to 90mph winds in exposed coastal areas of northern Scotland.

She said: “We could gusts reaching 80mph, maybe even up to 90mph. Northern areas where we will see the strongest winds – potentially 90mph for exposed coasts and hills.”

The disruption is not expected to affect inland areas in the south-east of the country, including London, but will hit the coast, with the warning extending to Brighton and Dover.

The forecaster issued an additional warning from midnight on Saturday to late afternoon that day across Scotland and the far north of England.

Met Office spokeswoman Andrea Bishop said: “Storm Eowyn will bring a period of very unsettled, potentially disruptive, weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday.

“Pronounced ‘Ay-oh-win’, the system will begin to influence the UK’s weather on Friday, with strengthening winds initially in north-western parts of the UK with accompanying heavy rainfall.”

Storm Eowyn’s wind strength is expected to ease gradually through Saturday from the south.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “The strongest gusts are likely to be felt across parts of Northern Ireland, northern England, north-western Wales and western Scotland, where exposed sites could get gusts in excess of 80mph, which has the potential to cause impacts for those in these areas.

“There will also be some heavy rain, bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.”

Meanwhile the storm is expected to bring “falls of sleet and snow” in western and north-western counties of Ireland.

The change to conditions is being caused by a powerful jet stream pushing low pressure across the Atlantic and towards the UK, following a recent cold spell over North America, the Met Office said.

The forecaster advised securing loose items outside homes, including bins, garden furniture, trampolines and sheds, and gathering torches and batteries in case of any power cut.

Those travelling in this “disruptive spell of weather” are urged to be cautious, as road, rail, airports and ferries are likely to be affected.

Another area of low pressure could bring further wet and very windy weather across the UK by Sunday.

There is the potential for further weather warnings over the weekend and throughout next week, the Met Office added.