BRITAIN is to be battered by 80mph gale force winds this weekend with a two-day weather warning issued for the length and breadth of the country.
Weather forecasters are warning of chilling winds and heavy rain for Saturday and Sunday that could last well into next week.
Travel chaos is expected after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for every corner of the UK.
As well as the closure of bridges and ferry services, the agency warned of a possibility of power cuts that could affect homes and businesses.
After a week of mild and settled conditions, bad weather is said to develop from the west on Friday.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said: ‘High pressure will build across the UK on Wednesday with much lighter winds and settled weather forecast for most for the rest of the working week.
“With clear spells overnight, we’ll also see frosts developing quite widely along with patchy fog or freezing fog.
“A gradual change to more unsettled conditions is then expected from the west through Friday, heralding an increasingly wet and windy spell of weather over the weekend.”
A statement on the Met Office website says: “Very strong winds are likely across much of the UK later Saturday and through Sunday.
“Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely across many inland areas, with gusts 70, possibly 80 mph around some exposed coasts and hills, especially in the north and west.
“Heavy rain will be an additional hazard, especially over western hills. Winds of this strength across a wide area have the potential to produce disruption to transport, along with some coastal impacts, especially in the west.”
And Brian Gaze of the Weather Outlook predicted how February would be dominated by a cold chill, with many nights experiencing frosty -5C conditions.
He said: “February is more famous for snow than storms – but computer models show an Atlantic barrage is on the way this month.
“Stormy conditions are possible at the start and end of the week, and again in the following week, with no sign of widespread snow.”
