Buckle up for Bert!

As promised earlier in the week, we are set for a wet and windy Saturday with the weather front storming in deemed serious enough to get a name.

Following a week of snow and ice, we can expect the temperatures to rise tonight as Storm Bert comes hurtling in from the Atlantic.

The Met Office said it expects the storm to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend" and potentially cause travel disruption and flooding.

For our area, we have a yellow warning in place from 6am-6pm with up to 80mm of rainf anticipated and strong winds in excess of 60mph.

Natural Resources Wales said its incident response teams are working with other emergency responders and local authorities, checking flood defences are in good working order and “making preparations to help keep people and property safe”.

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “As we head into Friday evening, a change is on its way as we introduce Storm Bert moving its way in from the Atlantic. So, we’ll see clouds spilling in from the southwest with outbreaks of rain - heavy at times by the time we reach Saturday morning.”

Organisers of the Winter Festival in Welshpool will be hoping that Bert will blow himself out, with festivities taking place in the town centre from noon on Saturday through to 6pm, with the Christmas lights being switched on at 5pm.