The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning this morning as 'Storm Barbara' is set to batter the North West over the Christmas period.

Residents in the North West should expect strong southwesterly winds to develop on Friday (23 December) with gusts of 60 to 70 mph likely say the Met Office.

People in the North West should also prepare themselves for a not so merry Christmas with the potential for structural damage - as well as disruption to power supplies and travel, with restrictions on bridges and disruption to ferries.

The warning is valid from 9am on Friday Morning until 9am on Saturday morning with winds expected to moderate by Saturday morning.

A Chief Forecaster for the Met Office said: "A deep depression, now named Barbara, will move northeastwards across the Atlantic, passing close to the northwest of Scotland later Friday and overnight into Saturday.

"South to southwesterly winds will increase earliest across the west of the warning area early on Friday, before the strongest winds develop across western then northern Scotland later on Friday and overnight into Saturday."

The warning comes after residents in Lancashire were warned to expect a wet rather than white Christmas by online weather app Weather Online yesterday. </s> Weather boffins say that Storm Barbara’s blustery stay in North Ayrshire is to last longer than expected.

Experts now predict that the strong winds that hit the area on Friday will last right up until Boxing Day (Monday).

Yesterday, the Met Office warned that winds of up to 90mph would batter the west coast.

A yellow warning for the area was issued, with other parts of Scotland receiving a more severe, amber warning.

Today's extended warning now means Christmas Day could see gusts exceeding 80mph in places, with an additional warning in place for Sunday, December 25 from 9am to 11.59pm.

The severe winds could lead to travel disruption for people on Christmas Day in relation to Ferry sailings and bridge restrictions.

The warning from the Met Office reads: “A further spell of very strong southwesterly winds is expected on Christmas Day (Sunday). Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely to occur quite widely, including to the east of high ground.

“Gusts of 60 to 70 mph will probably affect parts of northern Scotland, with a lower likelihood of gusts exceeding 80 mph across the far north of the mainland but quite possibly affecting the Northern Isles.

“Be aware of the potential for disruption to holiday travel plans (for example restrictions on bridges and delays to ferry services).

“Other impacts may include disruption to power supplies, the occurrence so soon after Storm Barbara is unlikely to help in this respect, large waves affecting coastal areas, while heavy rain in the West Highlands combined with snowmelt may lead to rising river levels.

The Met Office chief forecaster concludes: “A deepening depression will move northeastwards across the Atlantic, passing northern Scotland during the Christmas period and bringing a broad swathe of gales and severe gales to much of northern Britain.

“There remains a fair degree of uncertainty in the exact track and intensity of the depression, which reduces confidence concerning the threat of particularly strong winds across the far north.”

Read more news from Irvine and Kilwinning </s> Scots travelling to visit friends and family for festive celebrations are being warned to brace themselves as Storm Barbara blasts parts of the country with 90mph winds on Friday and Christmas Eve.

Yellow ‘be aware’ warnings for high wind have been put in place across the whole of Scotland from tomorrow until Saturday, but the second named storm of the season is set to sweep in from noon on Friday and continue into Saturday.

Parts of the north and north-west will be hardest hit by Barbara, with widespread gusts of 80mph to 90mph predicted.

Forecasters have warned of possible disruption to transport, damage to property and power cuts.

They say bridges, ferry services and flights are likely to be affected by the high winds, so travellers are being advised to avoid unnecessary journeys during the peak of the storm

The danger level has been raised to amber in certain areas from noon on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

Nicky Maxey, a spokeswoman for the met Office, said: “In that amber area we’re expecting to see gusts of 80mph quite widely, with isolated gusts of 90mph.

“The worst of those gusts are likely to be later on Friday and into Saturday, that overnight period, in parts of western and northern Scotland.

“Within the yellow warning area we’re looking winds of 60mph to 70mph, with isolated gusts of 80mph.

“There is the potential that these gusts could cause structural damage and bring down power cables, so we may find interruption to electricity supplies.

“We could see restrictions on bridges, disruption to ferries and it may impact on flights.

“It’s a period when lots of people are planning to travel for Christmas festivities, so certainly they should check with providers before setting off and expect adverse conditions.”

The Met Office said the storm comes as a deep depression moves north-eastwards across the Atlantic, passing close to the north-west of Scotland on Friday evening and overnight into Saturday.

Storm Barbara will have blown away by Christmas Day, but unsettled conditions are expected to continue.

However, early indications suggest there will be a calmer picture as we head through next week towards Hogmanay and New Year. </s> Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and Northern England all felt the brunt of Storm Ali’s ferocious winds.



Trees were uprooted, tiles thrown from houses and transport faced severe delays when the storm arrived yesterday.



Two people died in wind-related incidents as severe gusts of up to 100mph were recorded in some areas.



Storm season has just begun and is expected to bring yet more fierce weather to the UK.

Storm Bronagh will trigger “very disturbed weather” in Ireland over the coming weekend. 



Bronagh is the second named storm this season and has battered Ireland with rain today, before moving across to England and Wales. 



Heavy downpours and gusts of wind of up to 45mph are predicted to hit across the Midlands, with residents warned to take extra care on the roads. 



Yellow warnings are in place for both wind and rain across most of the UK. 



Rain warnings are in place until 10 pm tonight, affecting North East England, North West England, Wales, Yorkshire & Humber.



Wind warnings are remaining in place for longer, lasting until 9 am tomorrow morning.



Areas affected by strong winds are East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, North East England, North West England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber.



A further storm system is stirring up in the Atlantic Ocean, and if it becomes more powerful could be the third named storm of the season. 



Storm Callum is being monitored by Irish weather service Met Eireann which could develop into a storm reaching Ireland over the weekend.



If it does develop, Storm Callum would impact Ireland late on Saturday evening and has the potential to be “nasty” according to Met Eireann meteorologist Joan Blackburn.



The weather system is being closely monitored, with some models predicting it may not develop into a storm at all she said. 



Ms Blackburn added: “We are aware of it and keeping a close eye on it."

Should Callum materialise it could track across Ireland to the UK, impacting another force of winds and rain. 



Met Eireann said: “This weekend's weather is looking disturbed with the jet stream lying over Ireland, and details are uncertain at this stage. 



“But there is the potential for storm development close to and over Ireland. 



“There is a strong signal that more settled conditions will prevail for early next week as the jet stream moves away northwards.” </s> The Met Office has upgraded to an amber weather warning with severe winds from Storm Angus hitting Sussex tomorrow.

Angus is the first named storm of autumn 2016, and is expected to sweep through south-eastern England bringing some very strong south-westerly winds and heavy rain to affected parts through Sunday morning.

Looking at the development of the low-pressure system, on Friday morning (November 18) the Met Office issued a Yellow warning for Sunday morning for strong winds and heavy rain, from Dorset to Suffolk.

But today Met Office forecasters issued an upgraded Amber warning for severe gales for a stretch of south-eastern England from the Isle of Wight to Kent. The issuing of the amber warning has triggered the naming of Storm Angus.

The amber warning is effective from 2am on Sunday until 11 on Sunday, while the yellow weather warning is from 12am until 3pm.

The Met Office, which is warning that gusts of 70-80 mph are possible in exposed coastal locations within the Amber warning area, is advising there will be likely disruption to transport and power supplies and some damage to buildings.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “Storm Angus is developing rapidly and will move northeast across southern and southeast England during Sunday morning. Southerly then southwesterly gales are likely with storm force winds developing over the English Channel and affecting some coastal districts. Very squally showers are also expected such that isolated gusts of 70-75 mph are also possible further inland in the Amber warning area.”

The Name Our Storms programme is co-ordinated by the Met Office and Met Éireann, the Irish met service.

A pilot project began last year, and Storm Angus marks the first storm of the second year of the project.

For more information on preparing for winter, visit the Met Office Get Ready for Winter pages at www.metoffice.gov.uk/barometer/get-ready-for-winter </s> Gusts of up to 90mph are set to batter parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland over Christmas as Storm Barbara wreaks havoc over the festive period.

Forecasters have warned that power supplies may be hit, ferries delayed and bridges closed due to strong winds on Friday and Christmas Eve.

Western and northern Scotland are expected to be worst-affected by the gale-force winds – overnight on Friday.

An amber weather warning – meaning be prepared – is in place for the Scottish highlands and Shetlands, where gusts of 80-90mph are forecast into Christmas Eve.

Parts of Northern Ireland and northern England will also be hit, the Met Office has warned, with gales of between 60mph and 80mph expected on Friday and the early hours of Christmas Eve.

Forecasters said Storm Barbara had the potential to disrupt travel over the Christmas period and urged people to make alternative plans.



Nicky Maxey, from the Met Office, said: “It has the potential to be quite disruptive so we would urge people to think about their travel arrangements if they’re trying to get away for Christmas.

“There is a risk that it could disrupt power supplies, bring disruption to ferries and flights, bring restrictions on bridges – it’s quite important people think about their travel arrangements as much as they can.”

The gusts could cause chaos on the roads for the 3.5 million drivers predicted by the RAC to be planning a Christmas getaway on Friday, with 3.8 million expected to take to the roads on Christmas Eve.

Snowfall of up to 10cm has been forecast in upland areas of western and central Highlands.

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has said 21 of its 26 routes had already been disrupted by the weather, with several services cancelled. </s> Britain faces being battered by torrential rain and gale-force winds over the Christmas period, the Met Office has warned.

Forecasters have predicted winds of up to 90mph will gust through northern and western parts of Scotland, including Inverness and Fort William, on Friday and have issued an amber "be prepared" weather warning.



 A Met Office spokesman said: "Travel disruptions will affect people travelling within the yellow and amber warning area as major disruption to bridges and travel networks is expected."

 The unsettled weather is expected to hit travel networks including rail, road and air services.



 Chris Tubbs, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Storm Barbara is forecast to form in the west Atlantic on Wednesday and will pass close to the north-west of the UK during Friday, bringing very strong winds and heavy rain.



 "This brings the potential for some structural damage, disruption to power supplies and travel, with restrictions on bridges and disruption to ferries likely."



 The Met Office has warned that winds will reach high speeds from noon on Friday to 6am on Saturday morning in northern Scotland.



 Heavy rain and blustery weather is also expected in the southern and eastern part of the UK over Friday - but conditions are set to improve on Saturday and Sunday.



 The Christmas Day storm is forecast to be the biggest to hit the UK for more than a year, as it threatens to top winds from Storm Angus in November.



 The Met Office also said it could not rule out a white Christmas - but added that it was unlikely. </s> The weather is expected to become unsettled in Northern Ireland over Christmas weekend.

The worst of the weather is expected in the north and west of the Province and severe weather warnings are in place.

The stormy weather is due to start on Friday and Saturday and is expected to continue until early next week.

“After recent relatively quiet and dry conditions, much more unsettled weather is heading our way in the lead-up to Christmas with the second named storm of the season, Storm Barbara, expected on Friday,” said Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Tubbs.

“This brings the potential for some structural damage, disruption to power supplies and travel, with restrictions on bridges and disruption to ferries likely.

“The disturbed conditions look like continuing through Christmas weekend with another vigorous low pressure system waiting in the wings. So, whatever your plans over the next few days it’s worthwhile staying up to date with the latest Met Office forecasts, which is easy to do on our app.”

Keep up to date with the weather forecast in your area by visiting the Met Office website. </s> Strong winds and lightning could cause disruption to travel and power supplies across some parts of Scotland, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office has issued yellow "be aware" warnings of wind for much of Scotland which are valid from 6am on Wednesday until 6pm on Thursday.

Cold and blustery westerly winds are expected to bring heavy and frequent wintry showers across northern and western Scotland on both days.

Gales are likely at times along the west coast and the Northern Isles with winds gusting to around 55mph, while snow is expected on upland areas, with 5cm to 10cm possible on higher routes across the western and central Highlands.

The Met Office said frequent lightning may be an additional hazard across the Northern and Western Isles and the west coast in particular with the potential for disruption to power supplies.

Stormy conditions are expected to continue up to Christmas as Storm Barbara arrives at the end of the week.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: "There will be blustery westerly winds coming through with heavy frequent wintry showers and we could see accumulations of snow on higher ground and maybe some slushy stuff at lower levels.

"We also expect some lightning and the chance of some icy roads. The lightning could also affect power supplies and there may be some power cuts.

"That is a weather system that is coming through from Wednesday to Thursday."

The Met Office has issued a severe amber storm warning which lasts from midday on December 23 until 6am on Christmas Eve.

Forecasters said Storm Barbara's arrival could bring structural damage or overhead wire problems in the north of Scotland, with lightning joining snow in the weather mix, while travel and ferry services could be disrupted.

Drew Collier, operations director at ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne, advised passengers to visit the company's website or follow its Twitter feed for the latest information.

He said: "The west of Scotland is facing storms and high winds in the run-up to Christmas and the start of the following week.

"We would advise anyone planning to travel by ferry over the holiday period to take this into account and plan accordingly."

Disruption to the transport network and restrictions on road bridges and cancellations at airports are also expected.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said: "Our National Traffic Control Centre will be operational across the period with our multi-agency response team active on the days leading up to Christmas.

"Ferries are particularly susceptible to disruption due to high winds and we may also see some disruption to flights.

"Those planning to fly or use ferries this festive period should check with their operators for the latest information and consider the forecast as part of their plans."

Mr Yousaf said additional staff and specialist equipment would be brought in to deal with effects on the railways.

He added: "Our operating companies will be out on the network to clear any debris from the trunk roads and to make sure that the risk of any flooding is minimised where possible." </s> Image copyright PA Image caption The cargo ship - the Saga Sky - was damaged after hitting a barge carrying rocks

A 200m-long cargo ship hit a barge full of rocks in the English Channel, as Storm Angus battered the south coast of England with high winds and heavy rain.

Eleven of the 23 crew members were evacuated by helicopter after the ship got into difficulty off Samphire Hoe near Dover.

The other 12 members remained on board and are working on getting the vessel to a safe port.

Storm Angus is the first named storm of the season.

'Major incident'

The Saga Sky was dragged into the rock barge by severe winds after losing all of its engine power.

The coastguard declared the situation "a major incident", with two helicopters involved in evacuating crew members and a French tug sent to assist the stricken ship.

Andy Roberts, an RNLI volunteer with the Dover Lifeboat House, said although the Saga Sky was damaged and had been taking on water, there was "no sign of pollution" in the surrounding waters.

After regaining some engine power, the ship was able to move to a safe anchorage at Dungeness, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the focus is now on moving it to a more secure port of refuge.

Storm Angus has brought gusts of up to 106mph - recorded 23 miles off the coast of Margate - while gusts hit 80mph at Langdon Bay, both in Kent.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Storm Angus has left us behind but things are not calm quite yet.

More than 1,000 properties in the south west of England - the majority in Devon - were without power, according to Western Power Distribution. Almost all power had been restored by Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday evening there were five flood warnings in place across England and Wales, down from more than 25, including one severe, at the storm's height.

Angus has now moved out into the North Sea, but bad weather is set to continue into Monday.

A further three Met Office weather warnings have been issued for the beginning of the week for Wales and the south-west and north-east of England, which can expect heavy rain and winds of up to 50mph.

Image caption In Brighton, scaffolding fell on top of a car overnight

Image copyright PA Image caption Waves crashed into the sea wall in Newhaven, East Sussex

Devon and Cornwall Police declared a major incident overnight because of flooding at the Mill on the Mole residential park, South Molton, at 04:15 GMT, but residents who had been evacuated were able to return by 05:50.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said some properties in Braunton and in Bradiford had been flooded.

Meanwhile, fire crews were called to flooding to roads and "multiple properties" from sea water in East Bar, Swanage.

In East Sussex, organisers of the Brighton 10k tweeted that the run had been cancelled because of the high winds.

And in West Sussex. fire crews tackled a "major" fire on Bognor Regis seafront in the "difficult conditions" brought by Angus.

Image copyright Ben Webber Image caption Church Street in Braunton, Devon, flooded overnight

Image copyright Swanage Fire Station Image caption Swanage Fire Station tweeted this picture of damage to the sea wall in Swanage

Image copyright Swanage Fire Station Image caption And they advised people to avoid Swanage High Street

The Port of Dover suspended ferry crossings earlier due to "very high winds" but this was later lifted.

Network Rail said the weather had affected train services across the south east, but the majority of lines were now open.

The storm's effects have also been felt in the Channel Islands, with a wind gust of 84mph recorded in Guernsey and gusts of up to 87mph in Jersey.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Fourteen fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze on The Esplanade in Bognor Regis

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The Met Office issues warnings for parts of Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland as Storm Barbara prepares to make landfall.