Gusts of up to 80mph and four inches of rain set to batter the UK tomorrow

Gusts of up to 80mph and four inches of rain set to batter the UK today as the Met Office warns of potential power cuts and travel delays

  • Northern England and North Wales will be affected by the high winds today 
  • The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm
  • The strong winds could lead to potential power cuts and ‘delays to road’ 

Gales of up to 80mph are expected across Britain, sparking warnings of damage to buildings and transport chaos.

Northern England and North Wales will be affected by the high winds today – along with up to 4in (10cm) of rain.

After a calmer interlude tomorrow, gales will batter the West and Wales, as well as strong winds in the East.

The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm, covering Snowdonia, the Pennines and the North East. 

Forecasters say the gales could reach speeds of 70mph. The strong winds could lead to potential power cuts and ‘delays to road, rail and air transport’. 

After a calmer interlude tomorrow, gales will batter the West and Wales, as well as strong winds in the East

The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm, covering Snowdonia, the Pennines and the North East (left and right, showing where inclement weather will hit)

The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm, covering Snowdonia, the Pennines and the North East (pictured, walkers in The New Forest on Friday)

The Met Office issued a weather warning for today, running from 3am to 6pm, covering Snowdonia, the Pennines and the North East (pictured, walkers in The New Forest on Friday)

Amazing moment captured near Norwick on Unst, Shetland, where a waterfall appears to flow BACKWARDS during high winds and heavy rain

Amazing moment captured near Norwick on Unst, Shetland, where a waterfall appears to flow BACKWARDS during high winds and heavy rain

Another warning, for noon to midnight on Monday, could lead to disrupted Channel ferries and other transport, as well as power supplies. Coastal communities could be at risk from large waves.

The Met Office warning states: ‘An area of very strong winds will move eastwards across the UK through Monday. The strongest are likely on hills in the West. Here, gusts of 60-70mph are likely, with a few sites perhaps seeing 80mph.

‘South-eastern areas are likely to see more settled conditions, with some outbreaks of rain still possible.’   

The treacherous conditions could lead to power blackouts with he only exceptions being areas south of the Thames Valley, the east of East Anglia, northern Cumbria and Northumberland, which are still set to be blustery.

As well as potential damage to buildings, forecasters also predict transport disruption due to fallen trees, and restrictions to be placed for high sided vehicles on exposed routes such as bridges. 

Depending on the level of disruption, the windy spell – caused by a deep area of low pressure – could be the first named storm of the year and the second of the current winter season, after Storm Atiyah at the start of December.

The Met Office has warned the gales could hit by this afternoon issuing four weather warnings as well as 46 flood alerts which will remain in place between 3am and 6pm on Saturday (Runners cross the Millennium Bridge on the River Thames, London, on an overcast morning)

The Met Office has warned the gales could hit by this afternoon issuing four weather warnings as well as 46 flood alerts which will remain in place between 3am and 6pm on Saturday (Runners cross the Millennium Bridge on the River Thames, London, on an overcast morning) 

If deemed a named storm, it would be called Storm Brendan – although the Met Office has so far said it was is early to decide whether the weather system would qualify. 

Transport delays and damage to property are thought likely. To the south of the gales, it is likely to be very mild but mostly cloudy. 

The weekend’s bad weather comes after flash floods followed the torrential rain that lashed the UK last night.

In Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, a taxi was swept away by fast-flowing water brought on by the deluge.

The downpour in the area caused authorities to issue a ‘red’ flood warning on Thursday night – meaning ‘danger to life’. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk