UK weather: Storm Brendan batters Britain with 80mph winds

Wild weather set to sweep inland as gusts lead to power cuts on Ireland

Storm Brendan has battered parts of the UK with winds of up to 80mph and heavy rainfall – and more is expected to sweep across the country in the coming 24 hours.

A yellow wind warning issued by the Met Office to cover the whole of England and Wales has been extended to the northwestern coast of Scotland, while a snow and ice warning has been issued for much of northern Scotland across the morning.

The alerts over the storm – named by Ireland’s meteorological service Met Eireann - are expected to continue into Wednesday with a yellow weather warning issued for much of England's southeast coast.

Drivers are being advised to take extra care on the roads during the hazardous conditions, after video footage showing a trampoline blown on to the M7 motorway near to Limerick during on Monday.

The Republic of Ireland is predicted to be worst affected, with Met Eireann issuing an orange wind warning for the entire country. Around 48,000 homes and businesses in the country were left without power on Monday, with power cuts also affecting the northeast of Northern Ireland.

Meteorologist Helen Roberts, of the Met Office, warned road conditions "could be quite nasty" for commuters during rush hour on Tuesday.

Surface water on the roads from heavy rain throughout the afternoon could create "really nasty conditions", she said, while the AA advised drivers to take extra care due to fallen branches and debris.

The Met Office warned some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport were expected, particularly for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges, as well as some short-term loss of power and other services.

The weather is also expected to take its toll on public transport – with Great Western Railway advising services between Plymouth and Penzance will run at a reduced speed until the end of the day as a precautionary measure due to strong winds.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 25 flood warnings and 16 flood alerts, with coastal areas most at risk, while some nine flood warnings across England had been issued by the Environment Agency as of Monday night.

The Met Office has also issued a separate yellow warning for rain in southeast England, expected to remain in place from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday morning.

"It is actually a different area of low pressure, although it is all sort of wrapped up in Storm Brendan," Ms Roberts said.