Britain is bracing for 80mph winds this week which could put lives at risk and disrupt Christmas travel plans.
Forecasters warned the gales hurtling towards the country from Norway pose a significant ‘danger to life’ from large waves and debris being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
They also warned of transport cancellations affecting road, rail and ferry as millions prepare for the festive getaway.
Exposed areas in the North of England and Scotland are set to be the worst affected, with winds expected to hit 80pmh while other areas will feel gales of 60pmh and 70mph.
A yellow warning covering Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North of England and parts of the East and West Midlands is in place from the early hours of Thursday until midnight on Friday.
Commuters braving the wind and rain today as they arrive at Waterloo Station
The yellow wind warning is set to come into effect from the early hours of Thursday morning
Today, forecasters said the rain will gradually clear southeastwards from England and Wales to leave a mostly dry, bright and breezy afternoon.
Scotland and Northern Ireland will see sunshine and scattered blustery showers.
It will be very mild across the southeast, however temperatures will be nearer average elsewhere.
Tomorrow will be increasingly cloudy and blustery, with rain at times. Some sunny spells are possible in the south and east.
It will be Generally mild, though tempered by strong to gale force winds for some.
A Met Office meteorologist warned northern parts of the UK will be worst affected on Thursday as low pressure over Norway and high pressure in the Atlantic are set to push gale-force winds over the UK.
They said: ‘It’s across northern parts that we’re going to see the strongest winds. Across northern areas, 50 to 60 miles per hour winds are quite likely.
‘Even perhaps 70 to 80 in some exposed spots over the higher ground.
‘Also in the east we’re going to see some strong gusty winds, perhaps 60 to 70 miles per hour affecting parts such as the Pennines around York and Sheffield.
‘We could have some pretty strong winds as we go through Thursday and it’s no surprise that we do have a warning out currently.
‘It affects many parts of the UK and is valid for pretty much the whole of Thursday.
‘At this time of year many people will be taking to the roads with a lot more travel happening so that could cause some problems.’
The weather for the festive period next week is set to be colder as high pressure moves in.
People step over a large puddle on Oxford Street in Central London
Christmas shoppers braving the wet weather on Oxford Street in Central London
Pedestrians holding umbrellas walking in the rain past the London Eye
People walking in the rain past Big Ben in Central London today
Met Office forecasts for the rest of the week up to Friday
In relation to next week, the weather is expected to get colder and there may be wintry showers in the north.
A Met Office spokesperson said: ‘As we head towards the end of next week and the festive period there is, as always, more uncertainty in the forecast.
‘However, there are indications that by the end of next week we could see high pressure moving further south and west away from the UK, allowing northwesterly winds to develop at times.
‘This would allow some short periods where colder air affects the UK, with the potential for wintry showers in northern areas.’