Britain could be hit by hurricane-force gales with forecasters warning seven storms could be on the way before Christmas.
The prediction comes in the wake of Storm Aileen which battered the country with 83mph winds last week, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power and creating travel chaos on the roads and rail.
Three named storms hit before Christmas last year, while five named storms hit by December 25 in 2015, the first year UK storms were named.
There was a chilly start with a mist covering the landscape in Ditcheat Hill in Somerset this morning
Despite the warnings, much of Britain woke to a crisp and sunny start today – as seen here in Ripon in Harrogate, North Yorkshire
The prediction, made by AccuWeather the world’s second biggest commercial forecaster, comes after Storm Aileen’s furious march across Britain last week.
The first named storm of the year lashed the country bringing gale force winds of up to 83mph, flying debris and overflowing rivers leading to dozens of flood alerts.
Peak winds of 83mph were recorded at The Needles on the Isle of Wight, while Mumbles in Wales recorded a top speed of 74mph.
The Met Office, which names UK storms, does not go as far as issuing a prediction a total of named storms – but confirmed a stormy autumn would be expected.
Its three-month autumn forecast warns of ‘one of the stormiest parts of the year’ ahead. Extreme gusts over 90mph were forecast by The Weather Company in the coming storms.
A heron in the Main Lake at Studley Park in Ripon, Yorkshire this morning, which awoke to fine conditions
In 2016, Storm Angus on November 20 saw floods sever the London to the South-West rail line as 81mph gusts stranded a passenger ferry in the Channel.
Storm Barbara on December 23 and 24 delayed Christmas travellers with gusts up to 83mph.
And in 2015, Abigail hit with 101mph winds on November 12-13 and Storm Desmond killed three and flooded 5,200 homes with a record 341mm deluge in 24 hours in Cumbria on December 5-6.
And Storm Eva in 2015 caused Christmas Eve travel misery with floods following across Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The Met Office names Atlantic storms when they have the potential for amber or red warnings – meaning significant impacts – for wind, rain or snow.
The next six storms to hit the UK will be called as Brian, Caroline, Dylan, Eleanor, Fionn and Georgina.
This graphic shows the temperature across the country and the wind speed, precipitation and air pressure across Britain. It also shows how the UK compares to other countries on the continent.
There was a dry, bright start for most of the UK – as seen here in Ripon – but the Met Office says showers could spread across the UK later in the day
This interactive module, which is continuously updated, represents the picture across the UK. It shows high pressure sweeping across the country creating gale force winds. Generated by a super computer and updated every three hours by the National Weather Service, the graph shows strong winds sweeping across the Atlantic and the Channel.
WHAT WILL THE NEXT STORM BE CALLED?
This year’s names are: Aileen, Brian, Caroline, Dylan, Eleanor, Fionn, Georgina, Hector, Iona, James, Karen, Larry, Maeve, Niall, Octavia, Paul, Rebecca, Simon, Tali, Victor, Winifred
Aileen, Iona and Larry could be blowing into the UK and Ireland over coming months.
They are among the monikers which will be given to storms over the coming year, under a scheme to give names to the strongest weather systems by the Met Office and Met Eireann.
The scheme aims to raise awareness of severe weather, and prompt people to take action to prevent harm to themselves and their property.
Last year was relatively quiet, with just five storms named, from Angus in late November 2016 to Ewan at the end of February.
In comparison, 11 storms were named in the 2015/16 season, the first year of naming UK and Irish storms, beginning with Abigail in mid-November to Katie at the end of March.
The forecasters said this year’s storm season looked to be getting off to an unsettled start.
This year’s names are: Aileen, Brian, Caroline, Dylan, Eleanor, Fionn, Georgina, Hector, Iona, James, Karen, Larry, Maeve, Niall, Octavia, Paul, Rebecca, Simon, Tali, Victor, Winifred.
The Met Office said: ‘A positive North Atlantic Oscillation sees winds from the west dominate, with more frequent storms travelling across the Atlantic.’
AccuWeather forecaster Tyler Roys said: ‘Britain could easily have seven storms named by the Met Office by Christmas. ‘Storms’ impacts are likely to be significant.
‘A more active autumn and early winter storm period is expected this year, due to a positive North Atlantic Oscillation.’
The Weather Company head of meteorological operations Leon Brown added: ‘Gusts are likely to top 90mph in November and December in exposed western coastal regions.
‘Storms are likely to bring 70mph gusts inland across northern Britain, with 60mph gusts over central and south-eastern Britain.’