The UK and northern Europe are likely to be the windiest places on the planet this weekend. Areas of low pressure, driven by a strengthening jet stream, is forecast to barrel in from the Atlantic on Friday, with some of these likely to become named storms.
Up to 70mph (112 km/h) gusts are expected to batter the west coast of Ireland and the Faroe Islands, with Norway’s western coastline also likely to experience strong winds into Saturday. Further stormy conditions are possible the following week when areas of deep, low pressure arrive from the west.
Similarly, low pressure south of Australia is whipping up a last blast of winter across much of the country, as polar air from Antarctica surges north. The conditions are likely to intensify on Tuesday, ushering in temperatures about 10-15C below average for the time of year across swathes of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Coastal communities are likely to escape the worst of the chill. In some inland townships that usually experience balmy temperatures in the low 30s at this time of year daytime maxima could struggle to reach the high teens, with the temperature change occurring within 24 hours across Wednesday and Thursday.
Along with colder air, torrential downpours are likely to lash central Victoria and southern New South Wales as unsettled conditions continue, with up to 125mm of rain expected to fall within 24 hours by 6am local time on Friday.
Meanwhile Greenland could face a another sharp rise in temperatures this week to more than 20C above average for the time of year. Although it will generally remain below 0C, some pockets of the ice sheet could rise above this, causing further melt.
Temperatures in Greenland broke records last month, rising to 8C above the September average in places, with the Arctic sea ice extent below average. The climate crisis is exacerbating ice melt, as the atmosphere continues to warm with potentially unknown consequences.
