Storm Darragh: Met Office issues rare red wind warning

The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for wind, as Storm Darragh approaches.

The warning is in place from 03:00 to 11:00 GMT on Saturday, covering western and southern coastal regions of Wales as well as the Bristol Channel in England.

Yellow wind warnings are in place for swathes of the UK on Friday, with amber warnings covering the west coast of England and Wales, as well as Northern Ireland, on Saturday morning.

Red weather warnings are the most serious type of warning. The Met Office only issues them when meteorologists believe that dangerous, potentially life-threatening weather is expected imminently.

The Met Office says areas under the red warning are forecast wind gusts of 90mph or more.

These strong winds could lead to flying debris and falling trees, posing a danger to life, it says.

The winds are also expected to cause large waves, power cuts affecting mobile phone services, as well as damage to buildings and homes. Transport networks are also anticipated to be affected.

The Met Office says the strongest winds will subside by late Saturday morning, but that it will remain very windy until the evening, with amber warnings remaining in place until then.