A rat in a drain (Image: Getty)
Brits have been are particularly likely to try and seek shelter from Storm Éowyn in their homes and gardens this weekend.
The brutal conditions may , and as such the rodents will look for warmer, safer places to take cover.
Storm Éowyn is expected to bring 100mph winds, with a particular focus on Northern Ireland and western Scotland. Both areas have been given rare red weather warnings by the .
chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said of the incoming storm: “We reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn.
“While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.”
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Storm Éowyn will hit hardest in Northern Ireland and western Scotland (Image: Met Office)
Chris Bonnett, gardening expert and founder of is warning Brits in affected areas to prepare to hear the scuttle of rats in their homes when the weather turns.
“Stormy weather conditions such as wind and rain often damages natural nesting sites, forcing rats to find another home”, he said.
“You may find that they are trying to enter your home and if you’re experiencing them in your garden it means they’ve viewed it as a suitable place to begin building a nest and keep warm.
“Rats are more likely to do this if you have a lot of debris and garden waste on the ground or sources of food growing such as fruits and vegetables.
“The good news is that there are natural ways to deter rats including using garlic powder, removing potential water sources and covering any gaps and holes in and around your garden and home.”
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Rats will be drawn into gardens in the storm (Image: Getty)
Full list of towns, cities and areas hit by Storm Éowyn
Angus
Clackmannanshire
Dundee
Falkirk
Fife
Perth and Kinross
Stirling
Derbyshire
Aberdeenshire
Highland
Darlington
Durham
Gateshead
Hartlepool
Middlesbrough
Newcastle upon Tyne
North Tyneside
Northumberland
Redcar and Cleveland
South Tyneside
Stockton-on-Tees
Sunderland
Blackburn with Darwen
Blackpool
Cumbria
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
Merseyside
County Antrim
County Armagh
County Down
County Fermanagh
County Londonderry
County Tyrone
Dumfries and Galloway
East Lothian
Edinburgh
Midlothian Council
Scottish Borders
West Lothian
Argyll and Bute
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
Conwy
Denbighshire
Flintshire
Gwynedd
Isle of Anglesey