Brits are being urged to prepare as gale-force winds are expected in some areas
Some gusty wind is on its way (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire )
Gale-force winds are set to batter the UK this weekend, with the Met Office issuing a yellow wind warning covering much of England and Wales for Sunday.
A large part of the country will see winds gusts between 45 and 55mph, while exposed locations could see speeds up to 70mph, according to the latest forecasts.
The yellow wind warning will come into force at 8pm on Sunday and remain in place for nearly 24 hours, until 6pm on Monday.
On Friday morning, the Met Office extended the warning to most of England and Wales, including much of the North West of England.
The latest Met Office maps show that the strongest wind gusts are likely to be late on Monday morning, with speeds of up to 53mph in Greater Manchester at 10am.
Areas on the coast are expected to see even stronger wind gusts, with highs of 61mph forecast in Blackpool at the same time.
Wind gusts of up to 53mph are expected at around 10am in Greater Manchester, while coastal areas could see gusts of up to 61mph (Image: Met Office )
Despite the warning, forecasters have said the deep area of low pressure bringing strong winds to the UK is not likely to become a named storm.
Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: “There is no intention to name it, as of now. Obviously we are in meteorological autumn now, it’s the sort of weather that we do expect at this time of year.
“So it’s nothing unusual, particularly – perhaps it’s just the contrast with the weather that we have enjoyed over most of the summer.”
Top wind gusts expected in the North West
- Blackpool: 61mph
- Southport: 59mph
- Preston: 57mph
- Burnley: 54mph
- Rochdale: 53mph
- Bolton: 53mph
- Manchester: 52mph
- Liverpool: 52mph
- Wigan: 52mph
- Huddersfield: 52mph
- Chester: 50mph
- Warrington: 50mph
The Met Office has warned that the strong winds could cause transport delays on Sunday and Monday.
A spokesman for the RAC breakdown service, Rod Dennis, said: “Drivers are really going to feel the effects of the early autumnal weather this weekend.
“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.”
From Monday afternoon, the strong winds are expected to ease. Tuesday should see a return to less disruptive weather, according to the Met Office.