Storm Antoni is expected to cause havoc over the UK in the next few hours, according to the Met Office, which has issued a yellow wind warning.
Gusts of up to 65 miles per hour could reach parts of the United Kingdom, posing a risk of injury and death.
Flying debris has been mentioned as a specific risk, although building damage, travel interruption, power outages, and coastal issues may also be prominent in afflicted locations.
The yellow wind warning issued by the UK’s national weather service covers huge swaths of the South West of England and portions of Wales between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday.
“An area of low pressure, Storm Antoni, will bring unseasonably windy conditions to the south and southwestern areas of England and Wales on Saturday,” the Met Office warned.
“Strong winds are expected to affect Irish Sea coastal areas beginning early this morning, gradually moving south and east and spreading inland.”
“By the afternoon, the English Channel coasts will be experiencing very windy conditions.”
“Gusts of 35-40 mph are expected across the warning area, with 50-55 mph along coastal stretches.”
“However, the strongest winds will hit parts of southwest Wales and southwest England, with gusts reaching 50-55 mph inland for a time and possibly 60-65 mph along exposed coastal areas and over high ground.”
“Winds from the west will gradually ease later in the afternoon and into the early evening.”
From midnight until 11 a.m., a separate rain warning has been issued for the majority of Northern Ireland.
“Storm Antoni is expected to bring unseasonably wet and windy conditions, which may cause some disruption on Saturday morning,” the Met Office stated.
“Heavy and persistent rain will spread across Northern Ireland during Friday night before clearing from the west late morning and early afternoon Saturday,” it added.
“Totals of 20-30mm of rain are possible across the country, with the heaviest and most persistent rain expected in the south, and possibly also in the east, affecting parts of County Down and Belfast.”
“Here, 40-60mm is possible in some places, with up to 20-30mm falling in 3 or 4 hours.”
“In the meantime, 70mm of rain may fall over parts of the Mourne Mountains.”
“In the south, the wet weather will be accompanied by quite windy conditions, with gusts of 40 to 45 mph possible in some coastal parts of County Down during the morning.”
Despite the hot weather over the weekend, Britons have been given renewed optimism of a late-summer heatwave.
According to prominent independent forecaster NetWeather, the temperature in much of the country could reach 30 degrees Celsius on August 12.
London is anticipated to have the highest temperatures, with temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius.
However, temperatures in other regions of southern England will range between 26 and 27 degrees Celsius.
English