Powerful Storm Hector to lash UK with damaging winds, rain into Thursday

Storm Hector is set to unleash locally damaging winds and rainfall across the United Kingdom into Thursday.

Hector became the first windstorm to be named by the Met Office and Met Eireann during the summer since naming of storms began in 2015.

Typically, storm systems are less intense from late spring into early autumn, failing to reach the criteria for being officially named. However, Hector will bring the threat for widespread damaging winds to parts of the U.K.

The hardest-hit areas will be from Northern Ireland into Scotland, northern Wales and northern England.

These areas can expect frequent wind gusts of 40-50 mph (65-80 km/h) with localized gusts up to 60 mph (97 km/h).

Areas at risk for these locally damaging winds include Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle.

The strongest winds will occur into the early afternoon on Thursday.

Travel disruption is expected with potential impacts ranging from reduced speed limits and closed bridges to dangerous cross winds for high profile vehicles.

The strong winds can also result in tree damage and power cuts.

Strong winds will lash Liverpool, Manchester and surrounding areas with gusts up to 45 mph (72 km/h) through the early afternoon.

These strong winds could impact the royal proceedings in Cheshire as Queen Elizabeth and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, officially open the Mersey Gateway Bridge.

While not all of the U.K. will experience damaging winds, it will still be quite windy by summertime standards across southern Wales and England.

Locations from Cardiff to London can expect frequent gusts of 20-30 mph (32-48 km/h).

<b>RELATED:</b><br><em><a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/gb/united-kingdom-weather">United Kingdom Weather Center</a><br><a href="http://www.accuweather.com/get/weather?page=minutecast">MinuteCast® for your location</a><br><a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/gb/london/ec4a-2/weather-radar/328328">Interactive United Kingdom weather radar</a><br><a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/international/details-on-storm-hector/70005210">In-depth blog: Details on Hector</a></em>

Hector will also produce rainfall throughout the U.K. into Thursday.

The heaviest rain will be focused from Northern Ireland into western Scotland where local amounts up to 25 mm (1 inch) will be possible.

Farther south, rainfall will be limited to a couple of blustery showers in Manchester, Cardiff and London.

Hector will quickly depart, allowing winds to subside late Thursday into Thursday night.

Another storm arriving from the Atlantic will bring the threat for more rainfall from late Friday into the weekend.

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