Strong winds and heavy rain set to hit Leeds as Storm Jorge approaches

Workers battle through the high winds on Neville Street, Leeds. Picture by Simon Hulme.

Named by the Spanish meteorological service Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) on Thursday, Storm Jorge will track across the north-west of the UK over the weekend bringing another spell of strong winds and heavy rain.

Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, Paul Gundersen, said: “This weekend we’ll see another named Storm bring strong winds to parts of the UK with several wind and rain warnings in place.

“On Friday a band of rain associated with Storm Jorge will move across the UK - we have issued rain warnings for parts of Wales and northern England, where rain will be heaviest and we could see 60-80mm possible over the highest ground.

"South-westerly winds will strengthen through Saturday morning and it’ll turn widely windy except for northern Scotland, with wind warnings in place for Northern Ireland, Wales, southern Scotland and much of England.

"Where warnings are in place gusts of 50-60mph are likely quite widely with 65-70mph possible in coastal areas.

"With rain falling on already saturated ground, further flooding is possible places. "

What is the Leeds forecast?

The heavy rain will begin in Leeds on Friday morning

There may be snow in the earlier, more wintry showers.

This rain is set to last until 8pm.

The maximum temperature will be 7 degrees.

A yellow weather warning for wind has been put in place across Yorkshire on Saturday and Sunday.

The Met Office has warned that there delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely.

Heavy rain and blustery showers can be expected all day on Saturday.

Sunday will be drier with chance of showers and very windy.

Why is this storm not called Ellen?

The Spanish meteorological service, part of the south west Europe storm naming group, named Storm Jorge on Thursday (27th).

It is convention for all other national meteorological services to then use that name when referring to the low pressure.

As such the system will not be named Ellen but will align with our European partners and be referred to as 'Jorge'.

The weather over the weekend could have impacts due to the strong winds and those in the warning areas should take the advice of local emergency services seriously.