A danger to life warning has been issued as Storm Antoni hits parts of the UK, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
Falling trees, riptides and inadequate building structures are some of the dangers people should look out for on Saturday during the amber wind warning, the Met Office said.
The amber warning, which indicates flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life, is in place for southwestern areas of both England and Wales until 7pm.
Meanwhile a yellow warning for “unseasonably windy weather” is in place for southern parts of the UK until 8pm and a yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued until 10pm for south east England and East Anglia.
Very strong winds are expected today as #StormAntoni crosses the UK
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 5, 2023
Take extra care whilst travelling, especially across southwestern parts of the UK@TheRAC_UK @NationalHways ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/dIuoi7OUDq
And a yellow rain warning has been issued until 4pm on Saturday covering south east Scotland.
An amber warning means there is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather and people should consider changing plans and taking action to protect themselves and their property.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said the storm, which is the first to be named by the Met Office this season, could see winds of up to 70mph on the coast and 60mph inland.
He said: “Storm Antoni is now tracking east into the Irish Sea and will continue to move east across England and Wales.
“With it being the holiday season and it being a Saturday there will be plenty of local events going on, (Storm Antoni) wouldn’t necessarily bring the same level of impact if it was in the winter.
“For August this is very unusual.
“Effectively the trees are in full leaf so are more susceptible to strong winds.
#StormAntoni will continue to move east across the UK today ⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 5, 2023
Heavy rain, thundery showers and strong winds are likely to lead to some disruption 👇 pic.twitter.com/1hhcag73eY
“Building structures, trees and temporary structures such as marquees may not well be too adequate.
“Beach debris could be thrown from waves onto coastal roads, there’s a risk of dangerous tides, riptides and power cuts.
“Most travel disruption will be from (fallen) trees and branches.”
Areas within the yellow thunderstorm warning could see 15 to 25mm of rain in under an hour and 30 to 40mm in two to three hours.
Saturday will also feel “unseasonably chilly” with some areas not rising above 15C, and highs of 19 or 20C on the south coast, Mr Morgan added.
But Sunday is set to be brighter and less windy with no weather warnings in place, with temperatures up to 22C in the south.
And temperatures will start to rise next week, reaching a peak of 27C or 28C on Thursday in the south east, highs that have not been seen in the UK since June, the forecaster added.
The RAC estimates that about four million cars will be using the roads for leisure journeys across the whole weekend.
The RAC’s Rod Dennis warned: “We expect Saturday to be the worst day on the roads of the summer so far, especially for anyone in the south-west of England – and that’s a lot of people as our research shows it’s the most popular part of the country for leisure trips by car this year.
“Conditions will be atrocious with a wholly unpleasant mix of very strong winds and locally intense rainfall. The best advice is to slow down significantly to stay safe and avoid exposed moorland and coastal routes until the storm passes.
“Drivers towing caravans and trailers need to be particularly careful in these conditions and those with boxes and bikes on the roof should double-check they’re secured properly.
“Drivers should also watch out for fallen trees and be prepared for the disruption they cause.”
The weather has also forced organisers of outdoor events scheduled to take place this weekend to cancel their plans.
Eliot Walker, organiser of the annual Dorset jazz festival, Stompin’ On The Quomps, said he was “disappointed” he had to postpone this year’s event due to Storm Antoni.
The free festival in Christchurch Quay was forced to cancel its activities for the first time in its 30-year history.
Mr Walker, 44, said: “We’re really disappointed that the town can’t come together to enjoy a wonderful day listening to professional jazz and big bands by the side of the river on the picturesque quay.”
Around 10,000 people had been expected to attend on Saturday.
The decision was driven by concerns for the safety of traders and spectators although it is hoped the festival can be rearranged.
