HERE COMES THE STORM: Britain to be smashed by Hurricane Gonzalo TONIGHT
BRITAIN is braced for the worst storm in years to cause widespread damage when it hits tonight.
The entire country is braced for severe gales and torrential downpours that could trigger floods, damage buildings and could cause power cuts for hunreds of thousands of people.
Forecasters have issued warnings to expect significant disruption when the churning vortex, the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo, smashes into the west coast of Britain in the early hours.
HURRICANE GONZALO UPDATES: FLIGHTS CANCELLED AS BRITAIN GETS FIRST BLAST
With high tides due at the same time, huge waves threaten to spill over sea defences putting coastal regions at risk of severe floods with even snow on the cards over high ground.
Gonzalo - which has now been reclassified as a 'post-tropical cyclone' - is currently hurtling across the Atlantic on a direct collision course with the UK.
And worryingly, forecasters said there were signs today that the former force-1 hurricane was showing signs of GETTING STRONGER again.
Terrifying weather charts show the storm smashing into the west coast of England and Scotland by 10pm Monday with wind speeds of up to 90mph.
By the time it arrives its central pressure will be around 980mb similar to the devastating storm of October 1987.
The historic event saw pressure drop to 953mb triggering 122mph winds killing 22 people, ripping trees from the ground and causing buildings to collapse.
The Met Office has in the past few hours issued a severe weather warning for wind across much of the country on Tuesday.
Forecaster Simon Partridge said: “What is left of Hurricane Gonzalo will arrive late Monday around 10 or 11pm.
“We have a warning out for fairly widespread winds with gusts quite widely of 50mph and some isolated gusts of up to 60mph.
“It cuts right across the UK during Tuesday rush hour so people should take extra care, there will be plenty of rain and spray with debris on the roads due to the wind.
“This is the first spell of windy weather of the autumn.”
Chief Met Office forecaster Frank Saunders said: “The remains of Hurricane Gonzalo will move into the Atlantic in the next few days and then run eastwards across the UK on Monday night.
“Whilst this will no longer be hurricane strength it still looks likely to bring a period of very strong winds and heavy rain to the UK with the strongest winds on Tuesday as the low pressure clears eastwards.
“There is the potential for some significant disruption to travel from the very strong winds on Tuesday, particularly as the strongest winds will coincide with rush hour in places.”
RAC spokesman Simon Williams warned drivers to expect “dangerous” driving conditions due to strong winds and debris on the roads.
He said: “There is going to be a real danger on the roads for motorists due to the challenging conditions expected.
“There could be debris and people should adjust their speed and leave lots of space between them and there car in front to avoid accidents and a very bad start to the week.”
Gonzalo has left a trail of destruction across Bermuda unleashing 110mph winds and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power making it the worst hurricane in a decade.
Forecasters say it could be the strongest storm to hit the UK since Bertha struck in August with 100mph-plus winds and torrential downpours sparking flash floods and travel mayhem.
Jim Dale, forecaster for British Weather Services, said: “This is certainly going to be a wet and windy event and there could be some damage caused.
“It is one to watch and could be similar to Bertha with local disruption from the wind and rain.
“It is still developing though and could deliver more, it is one we are keeping our eyes on.”
America’s National Hurricane Centre shows what is left of Gonzalo crashing into the northwest of Britain tomorrow night.
A statement read: “Gonzalo has accelerated over the past six hours and is now racing northeastward.
“The global models are in good agreement on the cyclone accelerating east-northeastward over the north Atlantic during the next couple of days.”
The Environment Agency said the storm will arrive at the same time as high tides with the risk of massive waves tumbling over sea defences.
A spokesman said: “On Tuesday evening, a combination of large waves, strong winds and increasing astronomical tides brings a medium likelihood of minor coastal flooding impacts to parts of Norfolk and Suffolk.
“Parts of north-east England as well as Essex may see more isolated minor coastal flooding impacts.
“Impacts are likely to include spray/wave overtopping in coastal areas that may affect roads, promenades and perhaps individual properties.”
WeatherOnline forecaster John Ejdowski said: “Much this upcoming week is looking unsettled with ex-hurricane Gonzalo affecting the country overnight Monday into Tuesday with a short period of heavy rain across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England accompanied by gales.
“Towards the end of the week, we expect high pressure to build and settle things down across the south.”
How could Hurricane Gonzalo affect the UK’s weather
Forecast chart for Hurricane GONZALO reaching the UK
Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis said after a mild and breezy day tomorrow things are set to take a turn colder and stormier with the chance of snow over high ground.
He said: “A spell of wet and very windy weather looks to sweep east across all areas Tuesday morning, as ex-Gonzalo depression tracks somewhere across northern Britain, the track not entirely nailed yet, but expect gales or severe gales, with wind gusting to 70mph across exposed northern and western areas.
“As the low moves away northeast on Tuesday afternoon, winds veer strong northwesterly, ushering in much cooler air, cold enough to bring some snow across the Scottish mountains from the showers likely to blow in across northern and western areas.”
Waves beat the walls in Aberystwyth as Gonzalo arrives
Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?
