More heavy rain and 50mph-plus winds forecast as Storm Francis gets set to batter Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is braced for a battering to rival Storm Ciara earlier this year before temperatures start tumbling.

Met Office experts issued a yellow weather warning for damaging 50mph-plus gusts when Storm Francis hits the county on Tuesday and Wednesday.

High winds will also bring torrential rain at times and by Friday thermometers are predicted to tumble to a chilly 16°C ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Local weather-watcher Jamie from @NNweather said: "This persistent and at times heavy rain is expected in the county tomorrow morning (Tuesday).

"That will be followed by a brighter afternoon with some showers and temperatures of around 20°C but things turn increasingly windy through the day with gusts around 50mph by late afternoon or evening.

"Met Office warnings have been issued for a period covering a 24-hour period from 9am on Tuesday to 9amon Wednesday and the latest charts show winds gusting over 50mph in the county on Tuesday evening.

"Looking further ahead, as we reach Friday there’s another low pressure with more strong winds expected and a downward trend in temperatures this week in what will be a not particularly summery feeling few days. We're looking at 16°C on Friday."

The Met Office warning comes into force at 9am on Tuesday and lasts all the way through to noon on Wednesday.

Storm Ciara caused havoc in the county on February 9, damaging buildings and forcing roads to be closed by floods and fallen trees, with the strongest gust recorded at 59.5mph by the Met Office weather station at Pitsford.

High winds also damaged part of the roof of Sol Northampton, keeping part of the town centre closed for around 2½ weeks while the building was made safe.

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