Met Office warns of 'uncertainty' for UK after catastrophic US hurricane

The forecaster has given its verdict

The US state of Florida has been left counting the cost after Hurricane Milton left a trail of destruction in the region. The Met Office has now given its verdict on how this could affect the UK as it moves across the Atlantic.

The hurricane, which struck on Wednesday night (October 9) was classed as a category three storm which killed more than a dozen people, destroyed buildings and left millions in Florida without power. It is now heading east towards Europe.

While the worst of the storm will dissipate over the ocean, the Met Office has explained that it could still have an impact on the weather when its remnants reach the UK, the Express reports.

⚠️ Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice⚠️

The Met Office said: "Milton is expected to weaken to a tropical storm once over the open waters of the Atlantic and transition into an extratropical storm after it passes to the south of Bermuda.

"Beyond this, the remnant is likely to either be absorbed into a frontal zone or dissipate in situ in the subtropical Atlantic. If the remnants of Milton end up in the Atlantic as a weakening feature, it could cause some forecast uncertainty next week."

"Forecast uncertainty" can be caused by hurricanes as they often disrupt computer-generated weather predictions. They interfere with data collection processes, making long and mid-range forecasts less reliable.

Wind and rain is expected to batter parts of the UK over the next five days, the Exeter-based forecast has said but so far the country has been spared of any weather warnings.

While the Met Office has said it expects little impact from Hurricane Milton in the UK, it has acknowledged that the “chaotic nature of the atmosphere” and weather events in the Atlantic mean forecasts beyond five days could be less accurate.