High winds and heavy rainfall is set to batter southern and western parts of Britain this weekend as Storm Brian hits the UK.

It is expected to bring chaos to the roads and railways and travellers have been advised to plan ahead and check the weather forecast before travelling.

A yellow warning for wind has already been issued by the Met Office from 4am on Saturday (October 21) running through to midnight on Sunday (October 22) and heavy downpours are expected across the south east.

Gusts exceeding 50mph are expected widely, increasing to 70mph along coastal areas, which may coincide with high tides across the south of England.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind from 4am on Saturday (October 21) running through to midnight on Sunday (October 22) and heavy downpours are expected across the southeast.

The second named storm of the season, caused by a "weather bomb" of low pressure in the Atlantic Ocean, may also cause flooding along the coast, the Met Office has said.

It is expected that fallen trees and debris may temporarily block railway lines and damage overhead wires, which will affect Gatwick Express, South Western Railway, Southern and Thameslink services.

Speed restrictions may be imposed in the worst affected area for safety reasons and leaf fall may be accelerated by the strong winds, leading to further problems for trains.

The hazardous conditions come days after Storm Ophelia killed three people in Ireland when the ex-tropical storm toppled trees and caused widespread damage, leaving thousands of homes without power.

There is a yellow wind warning for Saturday

A Met Office spokesperson said: "A spell of strong southwesterly winds is expected. Some coastal routes and communities are likely to be affected by large waves, with potential for flooding of properties.

“Some transport disruption is likely across the warning area, with delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport. Short term loss of power and other services is also possible."

Motorists are advised to drive with caution.

RAC spokesman Pete Williams: "With the chance that high winds could coincide with the high tide - those driving on coastal roads should expect strong wind forcing spray and even waves on to the road - again proceed with caution and ensure that you have a clear view of the road ahead.

"Drivers encountering high winds are advised to reduce their speed, ensure they hold the steering wheel firmly and be prepared for sudden gusts, debris and even fallen branches in the road.

"Allow plenty of room between your vehicle and the next and take extra care when overtaking cyclists, motorcyclists and lorries as they are susceptible to being blown around easily by side winds."

He added: "When you reach your destination consider parking safely avoiding trees, overhanging telephone wires and things which could represent a falling danger."

The so-called weather bomb will happen when pressure falls by 24 millibars in 24 hours. In a weather bomb, a jet stream of strong winds high up in the atmosphere interacts with the low pressure system.

Video Loading

The jet stream removes air from the low pressure system, reducing its weight and causing the pressure to fall.

As the pressure drops, air is sucked in from the surrounding area, which means the low pressure system spins faster and faster.

A Highways England spokesperson said: "Be aware that a storm is on the way, check the weather forecast and listen to traffic alerts on local radio to make sure you are up-to-date on the latest."

Finlay Clark, UK head of the free, crowd-sourced navigation app Waze is urging drivers to plan ahead this weekend.

“Data from Waze shows that when hazardous conditions like this hit, a journey time increases by approximately 30%, so on an average drive of 45 minutes you’d be looking at an additional 14 minutes behind the wheel," he said.

“Alerts – including accidents on the road – often increase by 140% during stormy conditions. Speeds are reduced as drivers take more care, from 26mph to 22mph on average (a 16% reduction).

"Meanwhile, a 20% reduction on kilometres driven suggests that many people stay at home and only make essential journeys."

Heathrow and Gatwick Airports have advised travellers to contact their airline before travelling.

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can set up your app to see all the latest news and events from your area, plus receive push notifications for breaking news.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android .