Today’s weather: Yellow warning for intense storms

A yellow warning has been issued by the Meteorological Department for strong storms on Wednesday expected to affect mainly the north-west, west and south of the island. The warning is in effect from 2am until 11am.

Hail may also fall and winds may be variable and strong. Rain intensity is expected to vary between 35 and 55 millimeters per hour.

During the day the weather will be overcast with local rains and isolated storms, initially in the western half of the island moving gradually into other areas. Hail, snow and sleet are possible at higher elevations. Temperatures will rise to 18C inland and on the coasts and 6C in the higher mountains. Winds will be mainly south to south-westerly at first light to moderate, up to 4 Beaufort, later turning mainly south-westerly to westerly, up to strong, 5 Beaufort. The sea will be rough.

Overnight will be partly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms expected to continue, particularly in the west, north and east. In the higher mountains, snow or sleet is predicted. Fog may form during the morning hours, in the eastern half of the island. Temperatures will drop to 8C in the interior, 10C on the coasts and 1C degree in the higher mountains, where frost is expected. Winds will start off south- to north-westerly, up to moderate, 4 Beaufort, and locally up to strong, 5 Beaufort, and gradually turn north-westerly to north-easterly and abate. The sea will remain mostly rough.

On Thursday, cloud cover will be observed from time to time, likely to bring rains during the afternoon hours and possibly storms. Rains are expected to continue in the evening in the west and in the north and snow or sleet are expected in the mountains.

Friday will continue partly cloudy, particularly in the western half of the island. From afternoon onwards rains and isolated storms are expected, with a similar pattern forecast for Saturday.

Temperatures will hold steady through Friday with a drop expected on Saturday to reach slightly below the average for the season.