UK weather: New Year's Eve storm map shows Britain to be smashed by 71mph winds

A storm is set to batter the country on the last day of the year, with the brutal weather expected to bring 7cm of heavy rain every hour alongside strong 71mph winds

The UK is bracing for a wet and windy end to 2024, with gales of up to 71mph and heavy rain predicted to batter the country on New Year's Eve.

Brutal weather maps turned a variety of colours from purple to red and yellow, indicating that severe winds and downpours are likely, according to WXCharts. Wales appears set to be drenched by heavy rain at midnight on New Year's Eve, with the country barely visible on weather maps.

North Wales could see up to 7cm of rainfall per hour, while mid-Wales may see rain depths reach 3cm. North West England and Devon are also expected to bear the brunt of the showers, with some areas predicted to receive 7cm of rain per hour.

The rest of England won't escape lightly either, with the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the West Midlands all predicted to see downpours. Key cities including Sheffield and York could see rain depths range between 2cm-3cm every hour. Meanwhile, Scotland also looks set to be pummelled by a wall of rain.

Tayside and Central Scotland may see a glimpse of some festive flakes with 0.6mm of snow predicted. London will avoid the heavy downpours initially, but this respite won't last long as the capital is set to be battered by rain at 6am on New Year's Eve, reports the Express.

The East of England also looks set for a wet last day of 2024, with up to 3cm of rain per hour predicted. And weather maps suggest the storm could hit Scotland with severe winds of 71mph at midnight on New Year's Day.

Almost all of Scotland, including Inverness and Aberdeen, are bracing for wind speeds of between 60mph-71mph. Meanwhile, Newcastle in the northeast is also expected to experience wind gusts reaching around 62mph.

The Met Office's long-range forecast from December 30 to January 13 warns that, "the heaviest rain and strongest winds will generally be in the north, with the south drier and less windy overall". The weather during this period will be "changeable, with spells of wet and windy weather interspersed with some drier, more settled interludes".

It adds: "Temperatures will likely vary around average, with both milder and colder periods. Some snow is possible during the colder interludes, especially over high ground in the north".