Londoners can breathe a sigh of relief as Hurricane Gabrielle, though making waves across the Atlantic, is not expected to impact the capital this weekend. With unsettled weather on the horizon, the Met Office has clarified that while rain and wind are in store for much of the UK, the remnants of Gabrielle will stay well to the south of the country. Here’s what Londoners can expect from the forecast over the coming days.
Hurricane Gabrielle’s Path and Impact on the UK
The Met Office has officially ruled out the possibility of London being directly affected by Hurricane Gabrielle this weekend. According to Tom Crabtree, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, the storm, which is currently tracking towards the Azores, will downgrade from hurricane status before it reaches the UK. By the time it reaches the weekend, Gabrielle will have transformed into an ex-hurricane and will move eastward into the Bay of Biscay, remaining well away from British shores.
While Gabrielle’s powerful winds and heavy rainfall may still cause disruption in other parts of Europe, the UK will not bear the brunt of its force. Crabtree confirmed that the weather in the UK over the weekend would be a result of separate weather systems, and not the influence of the storm. “While some uncertainty remains over its exact track, we are confident that the remnants of Gabrielle will stay well to the south of the UK,” he explained.
Weather Outlook for London This Weekend
In London, the forecast for the weekend shows a more typical, albeit unsettled, September pattern. The capital can expect a mix of showers and cloud, with temperatures hovering around the seasonal average of 17–18°C. Friday is likely to begin with sunshine, though cloud cover will increase through the day, bringing the chance of isolated light showers. Saturday will see cloudy conditions persist, with rain arriving from the west by evening. Winds will pick up slightly, but no severe weather is expected.
Sunday will start with lingering cloud and rain, but these should clear by the afternoon, leaving behind drier conditions and intervals of sunshine. The overall weather this weekend will certainly be less dramatic than earlier in the month, when late summer warmth pushed temperatures into the high 20s across London. According to Kathryn Chalk, operational meteorologist at the Met Office, this shift signals a “change of tide” following the unseasonably warm conditions of last week.
While some parts of the UK may experience windier and wetter conditions, London’s weather will remain relatively mild and typical for late September. Though the remnants of Hurricane Gabrielle will certainly be felt further south, Londoners can expect a relatively calm weekend, with only light rain and cloud to contend with.
