The UK is braced for some of its “heaviest and strongest winds” so far this autumn when “severe gales” of up to 55mph hit parts of the country.
The Met Office said the wet and windy weather blowing in on Friday will have started on the other side of the Atlantic.
However, contrary to some reports, it does not expect these conditions to be the remnants of Hurricane Fiona, which unleashed devastation in Canada after coming ashore as a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday.
UK weather: Get the five-day forecast where you are
The Met Office has warned “heavier rain and strong winds” will spread quickly eastwards on Friday, when areas including Southampton and Plymouth in the southeast of England could see highs of 17C.
A temperature of 16C has been predicted in London, with 15C in Belfast and 14C in Glasgow.
Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth stressed the forecasted weather is not unusual for the time of year, saying the impacts are expected to be limited at this stage.
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She said: “The strongest winds will affect northwestern Scotland and Northern Ireland where severe gales are possible, up to 55mph, during Friday morning and afternoon.
“There will also be strong winds along the south coast on Friday afternoon and evening, where there is a chance of gales, for a short period of time.”
She added: “We are expecting the strong Atlantic jet stream to develop and push a deep area of low pressure across the Atlantic that will bring a spell of rain to the UK on Friday with some strong winds following.
“It is likely to bring some of the heaviest rain and strongest winds we’ve seen so far this autumn.
“Saturday will be an unsettled day with blustery showers and perhaps some more persistent rain along the south.
“By Sunday however it’ll be a drier and calmer day across the UK.”
