When will Storm Dudley end and when will Storm Eunice arrive in the UK?

When will Storm Dudley end is the question on many people's minds as Storm Eunice approaches and weather warnings predict "danger to life". 

Although the mornings are getting lighter, spring couldn’t seem further away as Brits continue to wonder if they’re going to experience yet more snow in the UK. And it’s not just flurries and heavy rain, but also high winds that have been causing major disruption this month as Storm Dudley hit. Arriving just weeks after the arrival of two major storms, Storm Dudley will soon be followed by Storm Eunice, with the Met Office issuing a rare Red Weather Warning as they predict devastating conditions. 

But when will Storm Dudley end and when is Storm Eunice set to arrive? We reveal all you need to know about the extreme conditions setting in…

When and where has Storm Dudley affected? 

Following on from the devastation caused by Storm Arwen and Storm Barra last year and Storm Malik and Storm Corrie earlier in 2022, Storm Dudley made its presence known from Wednesday, February 16th. Named Storm Dudley, it was predicted to be accompanied by torrential rain as it makes its way across the UK.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen explained: "An active jet stream is driving low-pressure systems across the country, both of which are likely to cause some disruption, and national severe weather warnings have been issued."

Although many Brits might’ve been dreaming of spring in recent weeks, it’s important to wrap up warm in your best winter boots and warmest leggings if you do have to venture outside during this time. Storm Dudley was expected to move across western Scotland and Northern Ireland into northern England.

The publication reports that forecasters warned of winds reaching up to 90mph on Scotland’s “exposed coasts and hills”, gusts of 60-70mph are possible further inland. While North Wales, Powys, and Ceredigion were also set to face major disruption with the arrival of Storm Dudley, with winds expected to reach 70mph.

And it’s not just dangerously high winds that anyone living in these areas should be wary of.  As revealed by The Guardian, there’s even the potential for major snowfall in the wake of Storm Dudley.

“With regard to Storm Dudley, snow will mostly be on high ground, with the highest accumulations in the Grampians,” a Met Office spokesman shared. “Lower down, any snow is likely to be short-lived, but when it is coming down it is likely to be blizzard conditions.”

When will Storm Dudley end?

The UK might only have begun to feel the full force of Storm Dudley's high winds on February 16th, but already many people will no doubt be wondering the ultimate question—when will Storm Dudley end? As revealed by Yorkshire Live, The morning after Storm Dudley struck, Northern Powergrid confirmed 1,000 properties still didn't have any lighting after power cuts. Now, much to the delight of anyone living in these areas, it looks as if the extreme conditions brought by Storm Dudley predicted to begin to ease on Thursday, February 17th. 

Though the Met Office had previously issued Yellow Weather Warnings for high winds, these are now no longer in place as the UK prepares for slightly more settled conditions ahead of Storm Eunice. 

When will Storm Eunice arrive and what weather warnings are in place?

Whilst Storm Dudley might be considered the most immediate risk to life and property, unfortunately it’s not the only storm set to hit the UK this week. Just like Storm Malik and Storm Corrie, which took hold one after the other in January, a second major storm, Storm Eunice, is predicted to bring “significant” disruption on Friday, February 18th. 

The Met Office currently has four Weather Warnings in place for the period Storm Eunice is expected to arrive. Whilst Scotland is likely to experience yet more snow, with a Yellow Warning, there is also an Amber Warning for wind covering large swathes of England. Extremely strong winds are expected to develop over the southwest of England early on Friday, before going on to spread further north and eastwards during the day.

And it's those living in the southwest of England and South Wales that are set to face the most severe conditions during Storm Eunice. The Met Office have already issued a rare Red Warning for wind covering these areas, predicting "serious disruption" and "dangerous conditions". They are expecting "danger to life" being posed by flying debris, as well as damage to buildings, power outages, flooding to coastal properties and major travel disruption. 

Widespread inland gusts of 70-80 mph are thought to be "likely" and these could reach as much as 90 mph near some coasts. As reported by the Daily Mail, a Met Office spokesperson has revealed that the storm could also bring both “heavy rain” and “significant snowfall” from the Midlands to the north of the UK.

“Further impacts are expected from very strong winds with 60-70 mph gusts possible inland, perhaps even stronger in some places, though the strongest winds and worst-affected areas are uncertain at present,” the spokesperson disclosed. “This system is also expected to bring some heavy rain and there is a potential for some significant snowfall over hills in the Midlands and further north.” 

Meanwhile, as revealed by Sky News, Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan suggested that it’s likely the warnings won’t remain as they currently stand as Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice make their presence felt. 

"It's not just going to be strong winds this week," he explained, before revealing there could be snow in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, with more snow and ice warnings “likely” to be issued over the next few days.

Why do storms have names?

Already this winter the UK has been battered by multiple storms, with some arriving within weeks and days of the last one. However, there'll likely be many people wondering how the storms get their names and just why do storms have names at all as two more loom on the horizon. The answer ultimately lies in the ferocity of the storms, with the Met Office reporting that they use the National Severe Weather Warnings service criteria. 

This is based on not only the impact the weather might have, but also upon how likely it is that this impact will actually occur. Storms will therefore only receive names after they are considered to have the potential to cause an Amber or a Red Weather Warning. 

Storm systems could also be named on the basis of the impact of rain, snow and wind they’re likely to have. Once a storm such as Storm Dudley or Storm Eunice have met this criteria, the Met Office, Met Éireann or KNMI can all name the storm, which follow alphabetical order.

For anyone eager to know when will Storm Dudley end, it seems that the conditions have already begun to ease as Storm Eunice looms on the horizon. So whilst things might seem calmer now, Brits better be prepared for more snow, rain and dangerous winds before the weekend.