Weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued for much of the UK as the New Year arrives with a roar.
From 5pm on Monday until 9pm on Tuesday, a yellow warning has been issued for much of Wales and England, reaching as far north as Manchester and Yorkshire.
The Met Office said the spell of “very windy weather, accompanied by heavy rain in places, is likely to cause some travel disruption.”
Maps from WXCharts show much half of the country swathed in angry red lines which could indicate winds of more than 70mph in places.
Heavy rain could bring misery to homeowners already counting the cost from winter storms, with the Met Office saying flooding of “homes and businesses is possible”.
Britain has already been blasted by several storm systems over Christmas and New Year, with Storm Gerrit sparking tornadoes in Greater Manchester last week.
The highest recorded wind gusts in recent days have been 74mph on the Isle of Wight, 64mph at Mumbles near Swansea, and 62mph on the Isles of Scilly.
Heavy spells of rain are forecast for tonight and overnight, with more set to spread across the UK on Tuesday. During the warning period, 15mm to 30mm of rain is likely to fall across the affected area, with some places seeing between 35mm and 50mm.
The Met Office said spray and flooding on roads could make journey times longer. It added: “Bus and train services probably affected with journey times taking longer.”
As a result of strong winds, delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely and damage to trees is possible.
Some short-term loss of power and other services is possible while there may be delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges.
