Storm Theta building strength in Atlantic and could be heading towards UK

Cyclone could bring severe winds and heavy rains

It’s the 29th storm of the hurricane season, breaking previous records for the most named storms in a single year (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Subtropical storm Theta continues to brew in the central Atlantic, but it may be on course to reach the UK. 

We can expect the storm to travel in an east-northeast direction over the next few days, according to a report from the National Hurricane Center. 

It will move between the Azores and the Canary Islands towards Madeira this weekend, bringing a high chance of wet and windy conditions, before potentially hitting England, Wales and southern Ireland early next week.

It is the 29th named storm of the hurricane season, meaning that 2020 has now broken the old record of 28 named storms in 2005. Meteorologists say another could strike in the Caribbean in the coming days.

So far, storm Theta has maximum sustained winds of 50 MPH (85KM/H), but forecasters say it may strengthen slightly in the next 12 to 24 hours.

If Theta continues on its predicted trajectory, it will be felt most strongly across the Bay of Biscay, the La Manche region and throughout England and Wales, bringing with it the possibility of severe winds and heavy rains.

However, there are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect; it’s still unclear whether the centre of the storm will hit land.

Cyclones within the Atlantic ocean become known as “tropical storms” and receive a name, when their wind speeds exceed 39 MPH. Only if the wind speed exceeds 75 MPH, do they become known as “hurricanes”. 

Tropical storms like Theta are a relatively rare occurrence in Europe, but 2020’s extreme season has seen storms hitting Western parts of Europe with increased frequency and bringing regional flooding, winds and damage.

The damage seen in Europe runs in parallel with the destruction caused this season across the US and countries further south, such as Belize, Bermuda, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico and Guatemala.