Blustery winds and rain head for Shropshire as Storm Eleanor hits

Gales and blustery showers – mixed with hail – are on the cards for the region, according to the forecaster.

And snow flurries could even be seen in the Midlands as the first weekend of the new year approaches.

Storm Eleanor is due to strike the country today, with the worst weather expected in north east and west England, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.

However, there will be unsettled conditions across Shropshire in the wake of the storm, the Met Office has said.

Meteorologist Emma Sharples said: “Today it will be very windy for much of the day with gales continuing, and with blustery showers and mixed with hail at times. Winds will ease slowly late in the day.

“The maximum temperature will be 9C (48.2F).

“There will be mixed weather tomorrow and Friday with rain, showers, and strong winds, at times.

“Some snow is possible over the hills. Things will turn generally brighter on Saturday, but become much colder.”

Bookmaker Coral is giving odds-on at 10-11 that the wind speed reaches as high as 100mph in mainland UK this week, with the firm also offering odds of 3-1 for this month to end as the wettest January on record and 6-4 for it to be the coldest January ever in the UK.

Spokesman John Hill said: “It looks as though Storm Eleanor is going to bring some powerful gusts with her.”

“We have therefore we have cut the odds on the wind speech reaching as high as 100mph in mainland UK this week.

“With the cold snap set to continue and more rain forecast, we have taken a flurry of bets for this month to end as the coldest and wettest January on record in the UK.”