Gale force winds sweep country as Storm Erik brings disruption

Motorists have been warned that debris and flooding could cause travel disruptions after Storm Erik raged on Friday night.

There will be showers in western and northern areas, with frost and fog forming as winds slow down and southern England will see some rain, with patches of snow falling over hills.

On Sunday, rain and snow over the hills in the south is expected to clear east with blustery showers following.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said throughout the rest of Saturday, winds of "up to 70mph on exposed coasts and 50mph winds inland" are likely.

However, it is thought the storm will largely clear on Sunday with conditions becoming more settled as the week progresses - but there could still be outbreaks of rain.

He also added: "It will be a brighter second-half of the day for Wales, south-west and northern England with a few showers thrown into the mix as well".

"The low pressure area was deepening rapidly as it approached the north west of Ireland and north-west Scotland on Friday morning".

Members of the public look on as Storm Erik makes landfall with winds of up to 70mph to hit some areas of the United Kingdom along with heavy rain on February 8, 2019 in Prestwick, Scotland.

'Through the evening period it starts to edge its way into parts of north-west Wales and north-west England.

Gusts of nearly 70mph have hit the United Kingdom as Storm Erik blows across the country, causing delays on the transport network.

On Saturday a kitesurfer died amid strong winds in an incident on the Saunton Sands beach in north Devon, although a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police would not confirm whether the death was weather-related.

A separate yellow weather warning for heavy rain was issued for northern Scotland on Saturday.

A Met Office yellow weather warning for strong wind covers much of Wales, central and northern England and southern Scotland until 3pm on Saturday.