Severe flood warnings have been issued for the Devon and Cornwall coast amid storm warnings for most of the UK.
Severe flood warnings have been issued for the Devon and Cornwall coast amid storm warnings for most of the UK.
Experts warn England and Wales could be hit by winds of up to 80mph (130km/h) on Monday and Tuesday, in what may be the worst storm of the winter.
Experts warn England and Wales could be hit by winds of up to 80mph (130km/h) on Monday and Tuesday, in what may be the worst storm of the winter.
The Met Office also forecasts blizzards and heavy snow for central Scotland.
The Met Office also forecasts blizzards and heavy snow for central Scotland.
About 170 people have been told to evacuate a caravan park in south Wales and some ferry crossings have been cancelled amid fears of storms at sea.
About 170 people have been told to evacuate a caravan park in south Wales and some ferry crossings have been cancelled amid fears of storms at sea.
The Environment Agency is urging people to stay away from exposed coastal areas and to check for flood warnings in their area.
The Environment Agency is urging people to stay away from exposed coastal areas and to check for flood warnings in their area.
Cancellations
Cancellations
By 2345 GMT on Sunday there were seven severe flood warnings in place in Devon and Cornwall and 44 other warnings in locations including southern England, and the Severn and Mersey estuaries.
By 2345 GMT on Sunday there were seven severe flood warnings in place in Devon and Cornwall and 44 other warnings in locations including southern England, and the Severn and Mersey estuaries.
In parts of Wales and south-west England, gusts of about 55mph (90km/h) were recorded and some heavy rain had started to fall.
In parts of Wales and south-west England, gusts of about 55mph (90km/h) were recorded and some heavy rain had started to fall.
P&O Ferries said it had cancelled its Sunday sailing from Portsmouth to Bilbao, and from Bilbao to Portsmouth on 11 March.
P&O Ferries said it had cancelled its Sunday sailing from Portsmouth to Bilbao, and from Bilbao to Portsmouth on 11 March.
FLOODLINE Call 0845 988 11 88
FLOODLINE Call 0845 988 11 88
The company's website also said sailings between Dover and Calais were delayed by up to an hour because of the weather conditions.
The company's website also said sailings between Dover and Calais were delayed by up to an hour because of the weather conditions.
A spokesman for Gatwick airport said if the weather was as bad as predicted, travellers could face delays or cancellations.
A spokesman for Gatwick airport said if the weather was as bad as predicted, travellers could face delays or cancellations.
Ministerial concern
Ministerial concern
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and senior government officials held talks on Sunday afternoon about the threat from the storm and checked local authorities were prepared for floods.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and senior government officials held talks on Sunday afternoon about the threat from the storm and checked local authorities were prepared for floods.
Ministers are said to be most concerned about floods around dawn, when sea tides are at their highest.
Ministers are said to be most concerned about floods around dawn, when sea tides are at their highest.
Huge waves are expected to hit the UK coast.
Huge waves are expected to hit the UK coast.
Police in south Wales have advised people at a caravan Site in St Brides, Newport, to evacuate their homes because of possible flooding and structural damage.
Police in south Wales have advised people at a caravan Site in St Brides, Newport, to evacuate their homes because of possible flooding and structural damage.
In nearby Gold Cliff and Redwick, residents in coastal homes were also advised to evacuate.
In nearby Gold Cliff and Redwick, residents in coastal homes were also advised to evacuate.
Newport Leisure Centre has been set up as an evacuation rest centre by the city council.
Newport Leisure Centre has been set up as an evacuation rest centre by the city council.
In west Wales, the worst hit areas were expected to be Amroth, Newgale, Dale, Solva and the centre of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.
In west Wales, the worst hit areas were expected to be Amroth, Newgale, Dale, Solva and the centre of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.
We understand that people are fascinated by the sea but at times like this we do urge them not to go and watch the high waves Paul LeinsterEnvironment Agency
We understand that people are fascinated by the sea but at times like this we do urge them not to go and watch the high waves Paul LeinsterEnvironment Agency
Damage is expected across the county from high winds and there may be further evacuations in some areas at risk of flooding.
Damage is expected across the county from high winds and there may be further evacuations in some areas at risk of flooding.
In Cornwall, emergency planning teams were preparing for high winds and floods.
In Cornwall, emergency planning teams were preparing for high winds and floods.
Stand-by supplies of sandbags were being provided and extra police called in to work overnight Sunday and from early Monday.
Stand-by supplies of sandbags were being provided and extra police called in to work overnight Sunday and from early Monday.
Cornwall's emergency planning officer Steve Winston said a combination of factors, including high spring tides and a very low pressure system, could lead to a "severe" event.
Cornwall's emergency planning officer Steve Winston said a combination of factors, including high spring tides and a very low pressure system, could lead to a "severe" event.
The Environment Agency urged people living in low-lying exposed coastal areas of Wales, south-west and southern England, including Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent to monitor the weather closely.
The Environment Agency urged people living in low-lying exposed coastal areas of Wales, south-west and southern England, including Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent to monitor the weather closely.
High waves
High waves
The Met Office advised travellers to leave extra time for journeys, as rail delays were likely, with the worst weather expected to strike during on Monday afternoon.
The Met Office advised travellers to leave extra time for journeys, as rail delays were likely, with the worst weather expected to strike on Monday afternoon.
The RAC advised drivers to be prepared for hazardous driving conditions over the next few days.
The RAC advised drivers to be prepared for hazardous driving conditions over the next few days.
The Environment Agency's director of operations, Paul Leinster, said: "There will be a potent cocktail of strong winds, wave action and high tides from Sunday night through until Wednesday."
The Environment Agency's director of operations, Paul Leinster, said: "There will be a potent cocktail of strong winds, wave action and high tides from Sunday night through until Wednesday."
He said that gale force winds were expected to combine with spring high tides to raise water levels along the coast by up to 1.5 metres over normal levels.
He said that gale force winds were expected to combine with spring high tides to raise water levels along the coast by up to 1.5 metres over normal levels.
Mr Leinster said: "We understand that people are fascinated by the sea but at times like this we do urge them not to go and watch the high waves - it is extremely dangerous and only takes a few seconds for someone to be knocked off their feet, into the water."
Mr Leinster said: "We understand that people are fascinated by the sea but at times like this we do urge them not to go and watch the high waves - it is extremely dangerous and only takes a few seconds for someone to be knocked off their feet, into the water."
Do you live in the regions which could be affected by the storms? How are you preparing? Send us your experiences using the form below.
Do you live in the regions which could be affected by the storms? How are you preparing? Send us your experiences using the form below.
