The worst storm of the winter could slow Britain's transport infrastructure to a standstill on Monday.
Winds of up to 80mph, rain and hailstones are set to batter the country when an intense low-pressure system reaches its shores from midnight.
Airports and ferry companies warned of possible delays and cancellations, while motoring organisations advised drivers to take care in potentially dangerous conditions. Power supplies could be disrupted, trees uprooted and buildings damaged when the storm takes hold. The Environment Agency has urged people to stay away from coastal areas as the storm brings the risk of high waves and flooding.
A Gatwick airport spokesman said the airport was prepared for possible cancellations or delays when the storm strikes. She said: "We are in regular contact with the Met Office, and our airfield operations are ready to take guidance from them.
"Operations are running as usual at the moment, and we have to deal with each issue on its own merit, but if the weather is as bad as currently predicted, there may be delays or cancellations."
A spokesman for Heathrow said the airport was unlikely to make any decisions on delaying or cancelling flights until late on Sunday night or early on Monday, adding: "Bad weather has led to the cancellation of flights in the past. We advise passengers to check with airlines before they travel."
The storm is forecast to develop out of a strong jet stream that moved out of Canada on Saturday, crossing the Atlantic before hitting the UK on Sunday and Monday. It is set to hit the country in two waves, according to Meteogroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, with more bad weather on the way later this week.
Rachel Vince, senior forecaster at Meteogroup, said the winds would start to pick up soon after midnight, with heavy rain, hail and lightning moving across the country overnight.
"It's unlikely we could expect gales as strong as the 1987 one," she said. "Nevertheless, where you do see the strongest winds you could expect some trees to fall and possibly some structural damage to buildings."
David Rooke, head of flood risk management at the Environment Agency said: "People living in properties in low-lying exposed coastal areas along the south west, Wales and north-west England should make sure they are monitoring the situation from Sunday afternoon onwards by checking flood updates on the Environment Agency website or ringing Floodline."
Winds of up to 80mph, rain and hailstones are set to batter the country when an intense low-pressure system reaches its shores from midnight.
Airports and ferry companies warned of possible delays and cancellations, while motoring organisations advised drivers to take care in potentially dangerous conditions. Power supplies could be disrupted, trees uprooted and buildings damaged when the storm takes hold. The Environment Agency has urged people to stay away from coastal areas as the storm brings the risk of high waves and flooding.
A Gatwick airport spokesman said the airport was prepared for possible cancellations or delays when the storm strikes. She said: "We are in regular contact with the Met Office, and our airfield operations are ready to take guidance from them.
"Operations are running as usual at the moment, and we have to deal with each issue on its own merit, but if the weather is as bad as currently predicted, there may be delays or cancellations."
A spokesman for Heathrow said the airport was unlikely to make any decisions on delaying or cancelling flights until late on Sunday night or early on Monday, adding: "Bad weather has led to the cancellation of flights in the past. We advise passengers to check with airlines before they travel."
The storm is forecast to develop out of a strong jet stream that moved out of Canada on Saturday, crossing the Atlantic before hitting the UK on Sunday and Monday. It is set to hit the country in two waves, according to Meteogroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, with more bad weather on the way later this week.
Rachel Vince, senior forecaster at Meteogroup, said the winds would start to pick up soon after midnight, with heavy rain, hail and lightning moving across the country overnight.
"It's unlikely we could expect gales as strong as the 1987 one," she said. "Nevertheless, where you do see the strongest winds you could expect some trees to fall and possibly some structural damage to buildings."
David Rooke, head of flood risk management at the Environment Agency said: "People living in properties in low-lying exposed coastal areas along the south west, Wales and north-west England should make sure they are monitoring the situation from Sunday afternoon onwards by checking flood updates on the Environment Agency website or ringing Floodline."
