BY PAUL HARPER From The Sun UK

Widespread disruption could hit the travel network and there are fears “flying debris” may cause various accidents

STORM Doris is braced to smash into Britain with ferocious 80mph raging winds and snow, the Met Office has warned.

Wintry showers with powerful gusts could hit the UK this week, leading the national forecaster to warn people: “Be prepared.”

Storm Doris (as shown in attached graphic  heading towards the UK) is set to push in from the west on Thursday – bringing 80mph winds, heavy rain and even snow

Severe weather warnings are in place for much of the UK on Thursday with forecasters warning of gales, snow, heavy downpours and icy roads

There were concerns Doris would hit earlier this month but the weather never reached the threshold needed to be classified as a storm by the Met Office.

Forecasters re-evaluated this position earlier today and announced Storm Doris had formed and was heading for the UK on Thursday, bringing with it snow, rain and 80mph winds.

This time last year, the UK had already been hit by nine named storms but Doris is just the fourth – following Angus, Barbara and Conor.

The Met Office only names storms when forecasters believe them to have the potential cause amber ‘be prepared’ or red ‘take action’ warnings and do this in order to make people more aware of sever weather.

The stormy conditions follow a warm air blast from tropical America which pushed thermometers into double figures.

Now the Met Office has issued warnings for snow and wind from the early hours of Thursday morning.

The warnings state: “Snow is expected over high ground of northern England and Scotland on Thursday and may fall to low levels for a time in Scotland.

“In addition, strong winds are expected to develop with gusts of 50 to 60 mph. This will result in drifting of the snow and blizzard conditions over high ground. Associated heavy rain at lower levels will be an additional hazard.

“The combination of snow, strong winds and heavy rain is likely to lead to disruption to transport networks and perhaps power supplies.”

IMAGES:

The grey skies loom overhead as an amphibious vehicle takes half term visitors to St Michaels Mount from Marazion in Cornwall

Severe fog and low visibility this morning over the Pontsticill Reservoir as the recent warm spell comes to an end

The scene when heavy rain and strong winds whipped up the waves earlier this month in Newhaven, West Sussex

A couple struggling with an umbrella in the strong breeze as heavy rain falls at West Bay in Dorset in January

For more on this story go to: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2915599/storm-doris-uk-weather-forecast-latest-met-office-warning/