Storm Darragh is formally named by the Met Office as Britain braces for 4 days of torrential downpours and 80mph winds

Storm Darragh was officially named by the Met Office today as Britain braces for 80mph gusts and 70mm (2.8in) of rain to hit from tomorrow afternoon until Sunday.

The UK will be battered by four consecutive days of heavy rain and strong winds from today with 60 flood alerts activated before Darragh sweeps in at 3pm tomorrow.

The Met Office has issued one yellow warning for up to 30mm (1.2in) of rain in the North West between 2pm and 6pm today, and a second for 70mph gusts across much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 3pm today until 3am tomorrow.

A third yellow warning for both 80mph gusts and 70mm (2.8in) of rain for the whole of England and Wales then comes into force from 3pm tomorrow to 6am on Sunday.

An amber ‘danger to life’ warning for damaging winds has also been issued for Saturday from 3am until 9am, for Northern Ireland and the western coast of Britain.

Storm Darragh is the fourth storm to be named so far this season and the third in a fortnight – following on from Connall on November 27 and Bert on November 22.

Meteorologists warned of travel disruption with bad conditions expected to impact road, rail, air and ferry services – while homes and businesses could be flooded.

The Environment Agency had 61 flood alerts and six warnings in place for England today, while Natural Resources Wales imposed 15 alerts and one warning.

National Rail warned of possible train disruption across the Midlands, North West England and Wales today – and then all of England and Wales from tomorrow, with a chance of speed restrictions being imposed on some routes as a safety precaution. 

The Met Office said rain would clear from South East England this morning, to leave plenty of dry and bright weather although breezy.

It will then turn wet and windy from the West and northwest from the late morning into the afternoon.

Rain will clear away to the East this evening, leaving clear periods for many overnight – although there will be showers in the North West and gales affecting central parts.

Tomorrow will be mostly dry with plenty of sunshine while a few showers continue in the North West –but wet and windy weather will arrive from the West later on.

Conditions will be wet and very windy on Saturday, with severe gales possible and some snow in the north – before it gradually becomes more settled on Sunday.

The Met Office said buildings could be damaged this weekend by ’tiles blown from roofs’, while spray and flooding could lead to difficult road conditions for motorists.

Power cuts and mobile phone coverage outages could occur, communities may become cut off by flooded roads and some routes and bridges could close.

Forecasters also said ‘injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties’.

And they warned of a ‘small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life’ and a ‘small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris’.

The Met Office said the system could cross England and Wales from tomorrow afternoon, bringing a ‘bring a period of strong winds to much of the warning area, with some heavy rain likely to the north and west of the low centre’.

Hill snow could fall in northern areas above 200m (650ft), while around 15mm (0.6in) to 25mm (1in) of rain may fall quite widely, particularly across central, northern and western parts of England and Wales.

The warnings added that ‘exposed higher ground in the north and west – particularly parts of Wales, which are at greatest risk of seeing flooding impacts’ – could locally see 50mm (2in) to 70mm (2.8in).

Winds are expected to quite widely gust to around 40 to 50mph inland but locally could gust in excess of 60mph.

Around coasts, winds may gust to 60 to 70mph, ‘perhaps locally nearer 80 mph’.

The warnings also said: ‘The wind and rain may cause disruption to travel, with difficult driving conditions likely.’

The storm will then clear to the east on Saturday night, with forecasters expecting colder northerly air to then push down across the UK from the north.

The Met Office advised people to take steps to protect their property from strong winds, saying: ‘Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them. Items include bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences.’

It added in the warning: ‘If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves. Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea.’

Mike Silverstone, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘While there is still uncertainty about the track and depth of the low pressure, Friday night and Saturday will be wet and very windy across parts of the UK.

‘Some model solutions have the low pressure further north and much deeper, bringing very strong winds and heavy rain, whilst other model solutions have the low pressure further south and not as deep, still bringing unsettled weather but not as impactful.’