Nightmare earlier than Christmas as storm set to batter the nation with 70mph gusts

The country is set to be absolutely annihilated by massive winds and gales on the build up to Christmas with disruption expected that will ruin peoples festive shopping and leisure plans

Britain is facing a nightmare before Christmas with a storm set to batter the nation with 70mph gusts.

Storm Eowyn could be named as a 400-mile wide Atlantic tempest threatens to wreck plans for shoppers and party revellers this week.

Damaging gales are forecast on Wednesday as schools start to break up and millions hit the stores. And the busiest leisure travel days of the year face a battering from debris on road and rail lines.

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “There is the risk of Storm Éowyn in a very wet and windy period.”

Monster gales pushing 70mph are forecast in the North in midweek, with 50mph in the South.

Road, rail, flight and ferry disruption is expected while floods are feared.

And more gusty winds and downpours are set to follow at the weekend with a risk of snow in the North.

A Met Office forecaster said: “It will be widely unsettled on Wednesday, with a spell of strong winds and periods of rain, heavy at times, for most parts of the UK.

“Rain will clear on Thursday, with showers following on a very strong north-westerly wind.

“Further low pressure systems will pass by and it will remain unsettled.

“Snow could fall at lower levels in the North during any colder interludes in the period to December 27.”

This comes as only a few days ago, The Met Office warned of a huge polar vortex hurtling tis way towards the country from the Arctic. It is expected to batter Brits with freezing temperatures and some places are expected to see nearly a foot of snow fall.

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