Storm Pia threatens Christmas plans with 80mph winds

Storm Pia’s strong winds may lead to travel disruption(Pictures: Epa/Metro.co.uk)

The Met Office has issued a weather warning as Storm Pia may bring travel chaos in the run-up to Christmas.

Forecasters have warned Britain to brace for 80mph winds on Thursday,with the North of England and Scotland are set to be the worst affected.

Other areas will also feel winds of 60mph and 70mph.

A ‘danger to life’ yellow weather warning has been issued to cover Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North of England and parts of the East and West Midlands.

It will remain in place from the early hours of Thursday until 9pm.

This means travel disruption is likely, power cuts are possible, high-sided vehicles could be affected on exposed roads and coastal routes could be sprayed by high waves.

The low pressure system has been named Storm Pia by the Danish authorities, but it was not expected to be severe enough in the UK to warrant being officially named.

Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesperson, said: ‘It is quite a wide wind warning area. Gusts are forecast quite widely to be 45-55mph, possibly 65-70mph to the east of high ground in Scotland.

A ‘danger to life’ yellow weather warning has been issued to cover Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North of England and parts of the East and West Midlands (Picture: Metro graphics)

‘The strongest winds are likely to be found in the north and north east of Scotland including the Northern Isles, with 70-80mph in the morning.’

The Met Office forecast showers along with the wind, with more rain expected on Friday.

Looking ahead, Mr Dixon said there was the possibility of snow on Christmas Day but only in the far north of Scotland.

‘It looks like there will be a drier afternoon in the south of the UK for those post-Christmas dinner walks,’ he said.

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A danger to life weather warning has already been issued.