Britain braces itself for 'worst storm of the year' » Environment » 24dash.com

The weekend will be washed out by the worst storm of the year so far, with gale-force gusts and heavy rain on its way, forecasters warned today.

Weather experts are advising those planning Saturday shopping trips and days out to postpone them and stay indoors as Britain is buffeted by winds of up to 70mph.

The winds will be strong enough to cause damage, including bringing down trees and branches, say forecasters.

And commuters hoping for a let-up in the rain today to help them make a quick getaway back home will be disappointed as the current downpours across the country are set to continue throughout the day.

Later on, we could see strong winds starting to develop, with gusts of between 30 and 40 mph in London and up to 60 mph in areas of west Wales.

There could be some let-up in the rain and winds on Sunday but the storm is due to give us another battering on Monday, posing the risk of disruption to the return to work after the weekend.

Stephen Davenport, of Meteogroup UK, said that while it will dry up overnight, the rain will begin again in the early hours.

"It is pretty filthy weather already and it is only going to get worse tomorrow. The real meat of the storm is coming overnight.

"There will be a gradual build-up, with the peak of the winds being felt in the south west in the early hours before the storm shifts north-eastwards."

"This is the strongest storm we have had this year but it is just an autumnal storm, not untypical for this time of year."

The storm is developing off the west coast of the country and is being fed by the still-warm autumn sea temperatures, he said.

Met Office chief forecaster, Bob Wilderspin, said: "We are expecting severe weather over the next few days."

He added that forecasters will be monitoring the situation and updating weather reports so people are advised to keep an eye on forecasts for more information.

There is also a risk of flooding in certain areas. An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We are likely to issue flood watches and flood warnings on Friday and Saturday, particularly across South Wales and the south west of England."

The wild weather has already caused disruption in some areas of the country. Passengers faced delays and cancellations after the heavy rain caused rocks to slide on to rail tracks, closing a busy line.

More than a tonne of rubble is believed to have fallen in the Chepstow area of south east Wales.

Services running between Newport and Gloucester were affected, along with cross-country trains between Nottingham and Cardiff.

A spokesman for Network Rail said "adverse weather conditions" were responsible for the rock fall and normal services were unlikely to resume until 3pm today at the earliest.

"It is not currently known how long this disruption will last," he said.

In the meantime, buses are replacing trains between Gloucester and Newport and trains between Nottingham and Cardiff Central will only run as far as Gloucester.

Rail passengers were advised to check with National Rail Enquiries - www.nationalrail.co.uk or 08457 48 49 50 - or the train operator before they travel.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it had received approximately eight weather related calls since 7am dealing with minor flooding in properties and gardens in the west of the county.

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells was closed to pupils today.

A message on its website said the school remained shut "due to sudden very serious widespread flooding and significant sewage contamination".

Firefighters also assisted an elderly woman stuck in a car in Hunton after surface water rose to the vehicle's wheel arches.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it had so far dealt with around six flooding related calls.

Warnings were issued by Sussex Police and Kent Police to motorists urging them to take extra care on the roads as weather forecasts predicted heavy rain and strong winds going into the weekend.

Superintendent Steve Barry, head of Sussex Police's road policing unit, said: "The usual hazards of autumnal driving such as wet and slippery roads, mist, fog and falling leaves, are likely to be added to by very heavy rain and gale force winds."