As eyes turn to the Atlantic, experts are increasingly concerned that a ‘sting jet’ will develop within Storm Dave and bring dangerous winds across parts of the UK.
What is a Sting Jet?
A sting jet is a narrow band of very strong winds which briefly develops near the centre of a storm.
The area is usually small, up to 30 miles across. It is called a sting jet because it appears as a curl of cloud around the centre of a storm on satellite imagery, giving the appearance of a scorpion’s tail.
How common are they?
Roughly one in every three storms to hit the UK see a sting jet develop so, they are definitely an unusual phenomenon.
Some of the most memorable have been in Storm Èowyn in January 2025 which brought gusts of 114mph to Mace Head in the Republic of Ireland and also The Great Storm of 1987 which brought gusts of 115mph.
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Why do they form?
A sting jet forms in rapidly deepening low pressure (storm) systems, as air from high in the atmosphere descends quickly.
Snow and rain falling through that descending air causes the air to cool even further which, in turn, accelerates the winds to higher speeds.
How likely is it with Storm Dave?
There is a potential for a sting jet to form with Storm Dave, most likely near Northern Ireland, during Saturday evening.
Even without the development of a sting jet, there is still potential for gusts of 80mph around the coasts in the northwest of England overnight during Storm Dave, and up to 90mph around Scottish coasts.
Are further weather warnings expected?
It is very possible that the Met Office will decide to escalate or expand some warning areas in the next 24 hours.
You are strongly advised to keep up to date with this developing situation.
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