A WEATHER warning is in place for St Helens as Storm Agnes is set to hit.

Forecasters issued several areas across the North West, including St Helens, with a yellow weather warning as Storm Agnes is expected to batter the region.

In St Helens, the warning is in place from 12.00am tomorrow and is expected to last until 7am on Thursday (September 27).

Gusty winds and thundery showers are expected to hit this afternoon at around 4pm and again at around 6pm.

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A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “A deep area of low pressure named Storm Agnes, is expected to approach southwest Ireland early on Wednesday and track across northern parts of the UK before clearing early Thursday. There is some uncertainty on the precise track and depth of the low, however, the most likely outcome at present is for a wide swathe of 50 to 60 mph gusts to affect inland areas, perhaps locally stronger over and to the lee of hills in the north. Some Irish Sea coasts could see gusts of 65 to 75 mph, with a small chance of 80 mph gusts on the most exposed coasts and headlands.”

Metrologists have said people can expect a “settled start” though cloud soon building accompanied by possible “severe gales”, especially along the coasts and outbreaks of heavy rain through the afternoon and evening. Maximum temperature 18 °C.

Here is an hour by hour temperature forecast for St Helens for the rest of today:

1pm - 15°

2pm - 16°

3pm - 16°

4pm - 17°

5pm - 17°

6pm - 17°

7pm - 17°

8pm - 16°

9pm - 16°

10pm - 15°

11pm - 16°