Wind up to 70mph, heavy rain expected to batter parts of Britain

Commuters were facing possible disruption with heavy rain and winds of up to 70mph on Friday and more to come during the weekend.

Yellow weather warnings are in force from Friday morning across Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of Scotland.

The Met Office has also issued three wind alerts and two rain warnings covering large parts of the UK on Sunday.

There is some good news with warmer weather on the way and temperatures could peak at 16C, the Met Office said.

A warning for rain has been issued from 6am until 6pm for south-west and north-east Scotland on Friday, with forecasters predicting travel disruption, power cuts, and flooding.

Another warning for strong winds runs from 8am until 3pm for south-west Scotland and West Wales on Friday, while a yellow wind warning will be in place in the east of Northern Ireland from 6am to 1pm.

Despite predicting a mild start to Friday, the Met Office warned of heavy pulses of rain accompanied by gales around coastal areas and hills.

In Scotland, ferry services from Dumfries and Galloway have been cancelled amid warnings of stormy weather.

Police Scotland said ferry sailings on Friday between Cairnryan and Northern Ireland have been cancelled as a result.

A spokesperson said: “Those booked on to any of the affected sailings are advised not to travel to the area due to the impending weather warning and delays are expected.

Calmac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast said all of its routes were either cancelled or facing disruption on Friday. The Isle of Man Steam Packet said its sailings between the island and Heysham on Friday had been cancelled or were at risk and it was monitoring conditions throughout the weekend.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “On Friday, south and west Wales, south-west Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland will see the strongest winds, possibly around 70mph on exposed coasts and around 60mph more widely within the warning areas.

“Rain is an additional hazard, with 30-40mm likely in parts of Scotland over a six-hour period, and up to around 70mm possible over higher ground within the warning areas.”

Saturday is expected to be a drier day across the country, but the South East may see the remnants of Friday’s rain drifting through during the day.

More rain and wind is expected from Sunday, according to the Met Office.

A yellow warning for wind is in place for Scotland, Wales and the north and west of England from 6am to 6pm on Sunday, with another running from 3am to 3pm in Northern Ireland.

Similar warnings for rain, which could lead to localised flooding and travel disruption are in place for south-west Scotland, much of South Wales and across Devon and parts of Cornwall from Sunday morning.

Mr Silverstone said: “The underlying factor in the shift in the UK’s weather is our transition from a cold easterly regime to more of a westerly regime.

“While this pushes away the colder air that has been affecting us, it also reintroduces Atlantic weather systems and the potential for areas of low pressure to influence the UK’s weather.