Storm Antoni: Danger to life warning as strong winds and heavy rain hits UK

The archetypal Met Office-named tempest of the twelvemonth has deed the UK, with forecasters informing "unseasonably" beardown winds could airs a information to life.

Storm Antoni deed precocious connected Friday and is expected to proceed into Saturday with beardown winds and dense rainfall forecast.

The Met Office has issued 2 amber upwind warnings for upwind successful westbound Wales and parts of southwest England.

Forecasters judge Northern Ireland is apt to spot immoderate of the heaviest rainfall.

A yellowish informing for rainfall has been issued for astir of Northern Ireland, moving from 08:00 to 20:00 BST. A yellowish informing for upwind is successful spot for the aforesaid clip play successful parts of south-west England, including Plymouth, Bristol and Bath.

Gusts of up to 65mph are expected to batter ample stretches of the UK's coastline, the Met Office has warned.

Amber upwind warnings for westbound Wales and parts of southwest England tally from 11:00 to 19:00 BST. In Wales, this covers Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

"Injuries and information to beingness from flying debris are possible," the Met Office said, arsenic it warned of "large waves and formation worldly being thrown connected to oversea fronts, coastal roads and properties".

Met Office main meteorologist Steve Willington said the tempest would bring "potentially disruptive" upwind arsenic it moved from westbound to east.

He added: "Northern Ireland is apt to spot immoderate of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling successful immoderate spots, but 20-30mm much widely."

Persistent downpours could besides spark flooding and question disruption.

The RAC's Rod Dennis warned drivers to beryllium alert of "atrocious" conditions.

"The champion proposal is to dilatory down importantly to enactment harmless and debar exposed moorland and coastal routes until the tempest passes," helium said.

"Drivers towing caravans and trailers request to beryllium peculiarly cautious successful these conditions and those with boxes and bikes connected the extortion should treble cheque they're secured properly."