People have been told not to be complacent and think Storm Eunice won't be that bad.
Red severe weather warnings are in place from the Met Office, but some people are seeing blue skies and mild winds.
But BBC forecaster Simon King said we are not seeing the major impact of Storm Eunice as it's still off the south east coast of Ireland.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live shortly after 9am, the meteorologist said winds may have been gradually ramping up, but the worst is yet to come.
He said: "Do not be complacent by thinking the winds aren't that strong where I am right now... the winds will continue to strengthen."
He said strong wind speeds in the south west of up to 60 to 70mph will transfer to the Midlands, the South East and the Midlands and to the Manchester and Hull area as the day goes on.
Wind gusts could hit 80mph as the strength of winds continue to build, he said.
Mr King added: The winds will only get stronger as the day goes on.
"If you're thinking at the moment there's not much impact, there's not much going on, you really do just have to wait it out because it's going to get a whole lot worse."
Gusts of up to 79mph have been recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly and the Needles on the Isle of Wight, the Met Office said.
At Capel Curig in Conwy, north Wales, gusts have reached 75mph, while at Mumbles Head near Swansea on the south Wales coast they have hit 74mph.
During the “Great Storm” of October 1987, wind speeds peaked at 115mph at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, while also reaching 99mph at Gatwick Airport and 94mph in central London.
