Storm Darragh has already been causing chaos up and own the country today, and things are only set to get worse, with Greater Manchester being no exception. A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued by the Met Office for Manchester from today (6th December) until Sunday 8th December, with areas of Cheshire, Merseyside and the Lancashire coast being under an amber warning.
Tonight is set to see more rain, with a short interval at around midnight, and carrying on throughout Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December. Warnings have said that there is a ‘slight chance’ that power cuts will occur in regions affected by the yellow warning, including Greater Manchester. It added that there is also a ‘slight chance’ or ‘injuries and danger to life’ as a result of high winds.
Storm Darragh was named by the Irish Met Service, and with the worst of the weather this weekend set to hit the Irish Sea coast of Wales, that seems pretty appropriate. A rare red weather warning is in place for wind and rain on the coast of Wales down to the north coast of Devon, including Bangor, St David’s, Cardiff and Ilfracombe.
What does Storm Darragh mean for Greater Manchester?
Flood alerts are currently in place, including along a long stretch of the River Irwell as it moves through Bury and Radcliffe, with an alert also in place for the River Roch as it passes through the centre of Rochdale.
Otherwise, as we’re used to, a lot of rain. We’re looking at a maximum of between two and three millimetres per hour over the weekend, give or take, and it’s honestly just going to be pretty miserable. Gusts are set to reach a high speed of around 84km per hour on Saturday, so be careful to keep two feet on the ground if you’re out and about.
Will Storm Darragh bring more snow for Greater Manchester?
Snow isn’t looking likely in Greater Manchester this time, with temperatures staying above 6°C, so we don’t even have those Christmas vibes to look forward to. According to WXCharts, snow is a possibility further north than Manchester, so you may catch it if you’re traveling – but do take care this weekend as driving conditions may be dangerous and public transport will likely be affected.
How can I keep up to date with the latest on Storm Darragh?
You can keep an eye on the Met Office website here, and their social media channels, and for Greater Manchester transport information, go to the TfGM website.