A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for London later this week, as a “weather bomb” hits the UK with 80mph-plus gusts expected.
Storm Eowyn is forecast to bring strong gusts of up to 53mph to London on Friday, which could cause localised damage, power cuts and travel disruption.
Heavy rain and hill snow is also expected, as the Met Office has warned travellers to plan ahead and check for any delays or road closures.
The storm, pronounced "ay-oh-win", is the fifth named storm to hit the UK since October and will develop quickly on Thursday.
Forecasters said Storm Eowyn will bring unsettled conditions across the country, in what they have dubbed a “weather bomb”.
A "weather bomb" occurs when central pressure inside of a larger low pressure system falls at a rapid rate over 24 hours, creating a peak of violent winds that are strong enough to bring down trees and cause structural damage, according to the Met Office.
Other parts of the country could see gusts of more than 80mph which may cause power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings.
A yellow wind warning has been issued by the Met Office for Friday and Saturday for parts of Scotland and the whole of Northern Ireland, with residents being warned of a potential danger to life due to flying debris.
While the first half of the week will be "benign" with grey, cloudy weather and outbreaks of rain, conditions are expected to turn much more unsettled in London on Friday.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: "A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday.
"Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.
"We have issued a yellow weather warning for wind, and with several days before the impactful weather, the forecast details are likely to be fine-tuned during the week, so stay tuned to your local forecast and keep up to date with Met Office warnings."
The change to conditions is being caused by a powerful jet stream pushing the low pressure across the Atlantic and towards the UK, following a recent cold spell over North America, the Met Office said.
The "weather bomb" will develop while still out over the Atlantic on Thursday and will be "a mature feature" when it arrives over the UK on Friday, Mr Almond said.
The Met Office advised securing loose items outside the home, including bins, garden furniture, trampolines and sheds, and gathering torches and batteries in case of any potential power cut.
Another area of low pressure could bring further wet and windy conditions once the previous system has weakened on Sunday.
