Time to book a holiday! Britain to be hit by Arctic storms and 100mph wind

PA

It's a few weeks later than expected, but it seems the great British winter really has arrived this week - and Britain is set to be battered by Arctic storms and dangerous 100mph hurricane-force gales.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for almost all regions across the UK, as forecaster Helen Chivers explains: 'We are expecting a spell of extremely strong winds and rain across much of the UK. Storms and wind force will reach 70 to 80mph quite widely across the country and will even reach 100mph as far south as East Anglia.

'These winds will cause transport chaos, damage buildings and bring down trees.'

A red alert waring has been issued, meaning there is potential for damage to homes and power lines, as well as a risk to personal safety from flying debris, and transport chaos across the country.

Ms Chivers told the Express: 'The strongest winds will reach us on Thursday afternoon and evening and will be worst during rush hour.

'Anyone traveling needs to be aware that the travel conditions will be extremely poor - people should also keep up to date with police and transport updates.'

Temperatures will continue to drop to around -3, while snow could hit areas as far south as Birmingham by Friday, with four inches of the white stuff predicted. Saturday will bring icy roads and frosts for the whole of Britain apart from the South East.

The Scottish borders have seen a reasonable amount of snow already, and the wintry weather has so far claimed two lives when transport conditions became dangerous in Lincolnshire and Glasgow.

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