[Scarlett.]

Winds of up to 80mph, heavy rain and hailstones are forecast to hit the country from midnight.

Surfers enjoy the huge surf at Tynemouth as stormy winds are forecast
Surfers enjoy the huge surf at Tynemouth as stormy winds are forecast

The storm is expected to disrupt transport networks and power supplies, with airports and ferry companies warning of possible delays and cancellations.

The Met Office has also warned the public of the increased risk of flooding on the west coast, with spring tides set to coincide with the heavy rain and gale-force winds.

Severe weather warnings are in place for all of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and southern and central Scotland, but South Wales and Southern England are expected to bear the brunt of the storm.

The Environment Agency has urged people to stay away from coastal areas as the storm threatens to bring high waves and flooding.
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The storm developed from a strong jet stream that moved out of Canada yesterday, crossing the Atlantic before hitting Britain on Sunday.

According to Meteogroup UK, the storm will hit the UK in two waves, with more bad weather expected later this week.

Rachel Vince, senior forecaster at Meteogroup, said the storm would start to pick up after midnight, with heavy rain, hail and lightning moving across the county overnight.

She said: "It's unlikely we could expect gales as strong as the 1987 one.”

"Nevertheless, where you do see the strongest winds you could expect some trees to fall and possibly some structural damage to buildings."

Ferry services have already fallen victim to the extreme weather, with P&O Ferries cancelling its sailings from Portsmouth to Bilbao today and from Bilbao to Portsmouth on March 11, according to an announcement on the company's website.

P&O's sailings between Dover and Calais are currently experiencing delays of up to an hour due to the severe weather conditions.

Flight schedules are also expected to face disruption when the storm hits the UK. A spokeswoman for Gatwick airport said the airport was prepared for possible cancellations or delays when the storm strikes.

She said: "We are in regular contact with the Met Office, and our airfield operations are ready to take guidance from them.

"Operations are running as usual at the moment, and we have to deal with each issue on its own merit, but if the weather is as bad as currently predicted, there may be delays or cancellations."

The storm is expected to be at its most fierce tomorrow morning, with strong westerly gusts in the west and south of the country.

David Rooke, head of flood risk management at the Environment Agency, urged people in coastal areas to take all necessary precautions.

He said: "People living in properties in low-lying exposed coastal areas along the south west, Wales and north-west England should make sure they are monitoring the situation from Sunday afternoon onwards by checking flood updates on the Environment Agency website or ringing Floodline.

"The strong winds will combine with spring high tides to significantly elevate the water levels along the coast which is likely to cause some flooding.

"We understand that people are fascinated by the sea but at times like this we do urge them not to go and watch the high waves - it is extremely dangerous and only takes a few seconds for someone to be knocked off their feet, into the water."

The Environment Agency currently has one flood warning in force, at the Aldwark Bridge area in North Yorkshire, and 10 flood watches.

The Met Office's chief forecaster Martin Young said: " It will be very windy for many parts of the UK in the early part of next week, but especially so across coasts in the south.

"Southerly winds are expected to strengthen during the early hours of Monday causing severe gales. After a brief respite, further westerly severe gales are forecast for later in the day and into the early hours of Tuesday." .

[KKBL]

Originally posted by Chewy
Winds of up to 80mph, heavy rain and hailstones are forecast to hit the country from midnight.

80mph isnt that bad where getting 150mph in Ireland tonight.i hate wind sooo much.this morning it was snowing

[Shaun]

Oooh. How exciting.

[Magic]

I hope it blows down my school

[Jack]

Originally posted by *Cathal*

80mph isnt that bad where getting 150mph in Ireland tonight.i hate wind sooo much.this morning it was snowing

I think you're thinking of 150kmph (about 95mph)? Because 150mph is a category 5 hurricane.

[Conor]

Originally posted by *Cathal*
80mph isnt that bad where getting 150mph in Ireland tonight.i hate wind sooo much.this morning it was snowing

Really? Up in NI I think we've got the best weather in the past 2 months. Its nice and light and warm-ish and sunny today Not many clouds either and everythings very still.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by Magic
I hope it blows down my school

Pmsl!! Same.

Is it meant to hit London too?

[Loukas]

Originally posted by MarkChap©

Pmsl!! Same.

Is it meant to hit London too?

fingers crossed lol

[KKBL]

Originally posted by Jack

I think you're thinking of 150kmph (about 95mph)? Because 150mph is a category 5 hurricane.

ohh ya thats what i ment LOL

[Legend]

Originally posted by MarkChap©

Pmsl!! Same.

Is it meant to hit London too?

South England will be effected most apparantly.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by Legend

South England will be effected most apparantly.

Boo!

[Shaun]

It's pretty bad at the moment. I just went to walk the dog and an estate agent's sign went flying past my head lol...it only narrowly missed, so I'm afraid the dog will have to do without tonight.

Bloody cold too!

[Tom]

Its not the South that will be affected the most, its the West. Some places will not get hit that much but apparently everywhere will get something.

I'm staying off college I think because I can't be bothered walking up a hill in gale force winds

[Shaun]

South-West isn't sounding too good then.

[CassetteFinger]

Not much happening in London atm and it's 01:57am.

[Jackie]

The wind is strong now in Essex,it's broken my garden arch and gone straight through the greenhouse!!

[Lauren]

Just woke up, looked outside and there's windows smashed and trees across the road - how did this not wake me? LOL.

[Jack]

Just went for a run and there's trees strewn across the path, didn't know it would be this bad.

[Mrluvaluva]

Were you drunk Lauren?

[Lauren]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
Were you drunk Lauren?

How very rude!!

I haven't touched alcohol in a whole... 3 days!

[Jack]

Originally posted by Lauren

How very rude!!

I haven't touched alcohol in a whole... 3 days!

Wow! 3 days of sobriety? That's impressive for a student.

[Mrluvaluva]

It's got to be a record! Lol.

[Ross]

A tree fell on one of our neighbours cars! And my bedroom is in the attic and I thought our chimney was going to smash through my window.

[Kevin]

Nice and sunny here

[Tom]

Ahh, the worst affected areas. The West coast, and the South. Warnings to stay away from Blackpool which I live about 30 miles away from. Hmm. RUBBISH! We had a gale during the night that lasted about 30 seconds and a bit of rain. Its been sunny all day (I've been to college in long shorts & tshirt and still been boiling) and its just got a little grey and overcast now.