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Winds of up to 80mph are expected to batter parts of the UK this weekend along with heavy rain and thunderstorms, the Met Office has said.
A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued from Sunday evening until around 6pm on Monday for most of England and Wales, which means delays to public transport and on roads are likely.
The alert stretches from southern England along the west coast of the UK and up to the Manchester area with gusts of up to 60mph expected around coasts and hills, according to the weather service.
Exposed coastal and hilly areas will be hit the worst – with winds of 60mph to 70mph – and could see large waves. Inland areas will also experience stormy weather, with most of England and Wales experiencing 45mph to 55mph gusts.
Delays to transport are likely, along with a slight risk of injuries and danger to life from flying debris, the forecaster added.
Stephen Kocher, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said that from Sunday, strong west or southwesterly winds would arrive at coastal areas in south-west England and Wales then spread inland.
The Met Office said the weather had been caused by a deepening area of low pressure travelling eastwards across the Atlantic.
While there has been speculation that the weekend’s weather will bring the first named storm of the season – expected to be Storm Amy – the Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said on Friday that there was currently no plan to name the storm.
“Obviously we are in meteorological autumn now; it’s the sort of weather that we do expect at this time of year,” he said. “So it’s nothing unusual, particularly – perhaps it’s just the contrast with the weather that we have enjoyed over most of the summer.”
The Met Office has advised those in the alert area to prepare by protecting their property, including securing loose outdoor items such as bins, sheds, fences and garden furniture.
There will be a brief reprieve from the intense weather on Tuesday but Madge warned that more severe gales could hit exposed coastal areas again on Wednesday. He said it was too early to tell where the impact would be but that it would be less severe than the winds arriving on Sunday.
“Drivers are really going to feel the effects of the early autumnal weather this weekend,” said Rod Dennis, a spokesperson for the RAC breakdown service.
“This will particularly be the case later on Sunday and into the new working week – strong gusty winds will make driving conditions challenging across a large swathe of southern and western Britain.
“The wind will be particularly noticeable on more exposed roads, like those over the moors in Devon and Cornwall, so drivers may like to delay their journeys or seek other routes.
“We urge anyone setting out to reduce their speeds while driving and pass high-sided vehicles with particular care.”
Sunshine and drier conditions are most likely to be found in the east, though temperatures will remain on the cooler side, with highs of about 17C to 18C expected in London on Saturday and Sunday.
