UK braces for 80mph winds and heavy rain as new storm hits

The UK is bracing for winds of up to 80 miles per hour (mph) and more heavy rain today as a new named storm ­– Barney – arrives from the west.

The Met Office has issued yellow wind and rain warnings for Wales and southern England which are valid from 10am this morning until 11.45ap this evening.

The Met Office’s warning said gales are likely to sweep eastwards across the southern half of the UK. Widespread gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely, increasing to 60 to70 mph across parts of Wales and the Midlands.

It added that gusts could possibly reach 70 to 80 mph in the most exposed spots such as on some coasts of West Wales.

The Met Office has forecast rainfall of between 20 and 40 millimetres over the high ground of NW Wales and NW England with peak values of 60 millimetres over the most exposed sites.

Barney is the second named storm to hit this week. The first, Abigail, brought flooding to parts of the UK.

The BBC said Abigail caused rivers to burst their banks in Cumbria and that train services in mid and north Wales have been disrupted by flooding.