Millions of people have been urged to stay at home for the day, as one of the worst storms in a generation hits the UK.
Schools, roads and businesses have shut, with major disruption to the travel network due to concerns over flying debris caused by gusts of up to 90mph because of Storm Eunice.
Homes have been left without power, while the Met Office issued two ultra rare “red” weather warnings – from 7am until midday along the coastline of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset as well as the south coast of Wales, and from 10am until 3pm over the East of England and London – due to the combination of high tides, strong winds and storm surge.
(PA Graphics)
And weather watchers have been urged to stay away from the coastline, with Roy Stokes from the Environment Agency describing travelling to take pictures in such hazardous conditions as “probably the most stupid thing you can do”.
A separate amber weather warning is also in place for gusts up to 80mph covering most of England from 5am to 9pm, as well as yellow warnings for snow in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Storm Eunice tracker - when the wind will be worst today
The south-west
Eunice has already arrived in south Wales and Cornwall, with winds having hit 50mph at around 5am.
Cornwall, Devon and west Wales are all expected to feel the force before rush hour, and gusts will peak at 80mph around 9am.
But it's Bristol that is most likely to be hit hardest, with winds of up to 95mph at the same time - the worst in the country.
The south-east
The storm will then move east, with the second red warning in place between 10am and 3pm, covering London, Kent, Essex and East Sussex.
Those winds are expected to peak at around 80mph.
Midlands
Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire can all expect the storm to hit between 9am and 10am.
Birmingham will see the strongest gusts the earliest, peaking at 60mph from mid-morning.North-west
A yellow warning is in place from 7am to 6pm in the north-west, though winds are not expected to reach the speeds of further south.
However, snow could strike anytime up to 6pm this evening in parts of Scotland, parts of northern England and Northern Ireland.
The wintry showers may see up to eight inches in the Pennines.
North-east
The North-east is expected to see winds of up to 50mph sweep in after lunch - about 1pm onwards.
But rain and the possibility of snow is likely much earlier in the morning.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
A yellow warning for wind and snow is in place in Scotland until 6pm.
Blizzard-like conditions could arrive through the day but Eunice will not be felt as harshly as else where in this region.
