Travel warnings as UK braced for severe storm and rain

Millions of people in England and Wales have been warned to prepare for heavy rain and hurricane-force winds on Sunday night and Monday.

Gusts of up to 80mph (130km/h) are predicted as the storm hits the South West then moves north and eastwards.

There are fears of flooding and damage. Three train companies have advised against travel on Monday and others warn rush hour disruption.

The Prime Minister has chaired talks about plans to protect the public.

No hurricane

BBC weather forecaster Michael Fish was left famously red-faced when, on the eve of the Great Storm of 1987, he assured the British public there would be no 'hurricane'.

Though he failed to predict a ferocious storm was about to turn north and hit the UK, he was correct on the hurricane point.

Britain cannot experience hurricanes - the word is used for tropical cyclones when they form in the Atlantic and north-east Pacific.

These are low pressure systems which develop over tropical or sub-tropical waters - not the cold waters around Britain - which become 'cyclones' once wind speeds reach 74mph (119km/h).

If a hurricane did head for Britain it would be reclassified as an 'extra tropical storm' before arriving.

Such storms can be powerful - but even if the winds exceeded 74mph it would not be called a hurricane.

In any case the storm currently expected to hit the UK is no such thing. Far from forming over warm waters, it is expected to form close to the coast before hitting the South West and heading across the country.

In the conference call, joined by staff from organisations including the Met Office and the environment and highways agencies, Mr Cameron heard the storm could have a 'widespread impact', his spokesman said.

But he was told there were plans in place to minimise the effect on public services such as schools, the NHS, transport and power supplies.

In other developments:

South West Trains passengers have been advised not to travel on Monday with most services not running until at least 08:00 GMT to allow Network Rail to check the lines. A reduced timetable will be in operation with journey times extended as some trains are limited to speeds of 50mph Airports including Heathrow and Gatwick are warning of possible disruption to flights and advising passengers to check with airlines before starting journeys The Environment Agency issued three flood warnings for West Bay Harbour, Lyme Regis Harbour and Chiswell in Dorset for the early hours of Monday morning due to the winds, large waves and strong swell expected The Highways Agency is advising motorists to check the weather forecast and road conditions before they travel and to delay journeys if the weather becomes severe The A249 Sheppey Crossing in Kent closes due to strong winds Clearing debris

Other rail operators have also already announced revised timetables.

These include First Capital Connect and C2C - which have also advised against travel on Monday - and says services are unlikely to begin until 09:00 GMT. Greater Anglia, Southern and Gatwick Express services all say they will not run services on Monday until it is declared safe to do so.

First Great Western has also warned of extended travelling times and Southeastern says it is likely to start running services later in the morning.

The Met Office said 20-40mm (0.80-1.6 ins) of rain might fall within six to nine hours in the wettest areas.

Several ferry companies have cancelled services, including some English Channel and Irish Sea crossings.

The Met Office said the predicted storm - named St Jude after the patron saint of depression and lost causes, whose feast day is on Monday - was not one 'you would see every year'.

It has issued an amber alert for high winds in Wales, the East and West Midlands, the South West, London and the South East and the East of England.

A yellow alert warning of heavy rain that could lead to surface water flooding and disruption is in place across much of northern Wales and northern England.

An amber warning means 'be prepared', while yellow means 'be aware'. No warnings are currently in place at the top red level, which means 'take action'.

Forecasters said exposed coasts in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent could face the strongest winds.

The Environment Agency has warned of the possibility of surface water flooding on Monday, but currently assesses it as a 'low risk'.

A spokesman said teams were working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts.

WEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO

BBC Weather presenter Nick Miller said the storm was in a 'developing and deepening' area of low pressure in the Atlantic which developed off the east coast of the US.

He said there were 'still some uncertainties' about how strong the winds would be, but a band of heavy rain across England and Wales would result in standing water and spray during rush hour on Monday.

The storm is expected to reach the South West in the early hours of Monday and should have moved across the country to the North Sea by lunchtime.

Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to be spared the worst of the weather.

High winds have already been reported in some areas, with a wind turbine collapsing in Devon on Saturday night.

More than 1,000 homes are without power in Pangbourne, Berkshire, after a falling tree reportedly brought down a power line.

The Metropolitan Police is urging people to use its 101 number during the storm rather than 999, unless there is a 'genuine' emergency

HM Coastguard urged people to take extra care around the coasts, with waves eight or nine metres high expected in some areas.

It said conditions could be 'extremely treacherous', especially on cliff tops, and urged people not to put themselves and rescue teams at unnecessary risk.

Kelly Oster-Coyle, of the Association of British Insurers, said people should do 'small practical things' to prepare for the storm but insurers knows 'things will be flying around' in the high winds and will be ready to pay out to customers.

Wind speeds of 115 mph were recorded during the so-called Great Storm of October 1987.

There is more information about the forecasts for Sunday and Monday on the BBC WeatherRead the terms and conditions , Met Office and Environment Agency websites. See BBC Travel News for up to date travel information and the Highways Agency and Traffic Wales websites for details about road conditions. BBC Local has information from your area.

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