Two storms that are expected to hit the UK this week have been named Dudley and Eunice, with forecasters warning of winds of up to 90mph. The two low-pressure systems will bring spells of very strong winds and potentially snow between Wednesday and Friday. Storm Dudley will cross the northern half of the UK from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, while Storm Eunice will bring strong winds and potentially some snow for parts of the country on Friday. The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said an active jet stream was driving low-pressure systems across the country that were likely to cause some disruption. Strong winds will cross western Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday evening, pushing eastward to northern England overnight and through Thursday morning. Gusts of 80mph to 90mph are possible on exposed coasts and hills of Scotland, with gusts of 60mph to 70mph possible further inland. Winds are expected to ease through Thursday afternoon and evening, forecasters added. There is an amber weather warning in place for the northern half of the UK on Wednesday and Thursday, with “significant disruption” expected. The next low-pressure system will track across central areas of the UK on Friday as Storm Eunice arrives. Further disruption is expected from very strong winds, with 60mph to 70mph gusts possible inland, perhaps even stronger in some places. However, there is uncertainty over the strength of the winds and the worst-affected areas, the Met Office said. This system is also expected to bring some heavy rain and there is a potential for some significant snowfall over hills in the Midlands and further north. A Met Office spokesman said: “With regard to Storm Dudley, snow will mostly be on high ground, with the highest accumulations in the Grampians. “Lower down, any snow is likely to be short-lived but when it is coming down it is likely to be blizzard conditions.”