Met Office issues 'danger to life' yellow wind warning as 80mph hurricane-force gales to smash Britain
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The Met Office has issued a rare yellow wind alert, warning of a possible "danger to life" due to flying debris from hurricane-force winds.
The 36-hour warning covers the entirety of Northern Ireland and large swathes of Scotland, with affected areas seeing some "disruption".
The alert, which brings with it winds of up to 80mph, begins at 12am on Friday and lasts until midday on Saturday.
In its definition for hurricanes, the Met Office said: "A hurricane is an area of low pressure over tropical or sub-tropical waters, with organised convection (i.e. thunderstorm activity) and sustained winds near the surface of at least 74 mph".
The 36-hour warning covers the entirety of Northern Ireland and large swathes of Scotland
Met Office
Issuing the latest alert, the Met Office said: "A deep area of low pressure is expected to pass close to or across the northwest of the UK on Friday and Saturday.
"It will bring a spell of very strong southeasterly to southwesterly winds with gusts reaching 50-60 mph inland and 70-80 mph along coasts (and perhaps higher than this in a few locations). The wind strength will gradually ease through Saturday from the south."
The weather office said that "a deep area of low pressure will bring very strong winds and some disruption".
It said that damage to buildings is likely, whilst power cuts may also occur.
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Strong winds will hit the UK towards the end of the week
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"Injuries and danger to life could occur from flying debris, as well as large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties," it said.
Travel will also likely be impacted, with longer journey times and cancellations possible.
"Some roads and bridges may close," the Met Office warned.
The wind warning coincides with an incoming jet stream that is blowing over from the US,
A man walking in the windGETTYThe jet stream will bring with it "perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far", the Met Office has warned.
It added that the UK will see a return to wet and windy conditions as the low pressure system blows over from North America, which has seen a recent cold spell due to arctic air.
Winds of up to 250mph will strike the UK from Wednesday onwards, with the low pressure "rapidly deepening" as the week presses on.
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