A “weather bomb” is forecast to hit parts of the UK later this week, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and snow.
The first half of the week will be “benign” with cloudy weather and outbreaks of rain for much of the country before the arrival of more unsettled conditions, the Met Office said.
Gusts of up to 80mph could cause power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings from Thursday, and there could also be a danger to life from flying debris, it said.
A weather bomb occurs when central pressure inside a larger low-pressure system falls at a rapid rate over 24 hours, creating a violent winds that are strong enough to bring down trees and cause structural damage.
It will develop over the Atlantic and will be “a mature feature” when it hits the UK on Friday.
A yellow wind warning is in place for the whole of Northern Ireland and the western half of Scotland, including Glasgow, from midnight on Friday to midday on Saturday.
Very strong south-easterly to south-westerly winds will gust at 50 to 60mph inland and 70 to 80 mph along coastal areas.
The Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, Chris Almond, said: “A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday.
“Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.
The change in conditions is being caused by a powerful jet stream pushing the low pressure across the Atlantic and towards the UK after a recent cold spell over North America, the Met Office said.
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An initial front will bring heavy rain eastwards on Thursday, with 20 to 30mm likely across north Wales and north-west England. Some hill snow is possible over the Scottish mountains.
The Met Office advised securing loose items outside the home, including bins, garden furniture, trampolines and sheds, and gathering torches and batteries in case of a power cut.
It also said there was the potential for a named storm or further weather warnings over the weekend and into next week.
