Brits brace for heavy rain and 70mph gales as first named storm of the season set to batter UK this week

Britain could be hit by the first named storm of the season this weekend as the Met Office warned of strong winds and torrential rain.A yellow weather warning for wind will come into force on Friday morning across parts of the South East, South West and Wales.It could mark the first named storm of the season if judged to cause 'medium' or 'high' impacts.Assessed by Britain's Met Office, Ireland's Met Éireann and the Netherlands's KNMI, Austen is the first name on the three countries' list and could be used to label this weekend's weather.Gusts of up to 60mph could hit the south of the country while coastal areas could see 70mph or stronger gales.The Met Office said Britain would see an 'increasingly autumnal theme' to the weather this week as low pressure returns with wet and windy weather.A spokesman for the forecaster said by Thursday developing low pressure would bring 'powerful winds and heavy rain'.Deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said: 'An area of the forecast we're particularly focusing on is the development of a potentially deep area of low pressure that could cross the UK overnight on Thursday and through Friday. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind, set to come into force in the early hours of Friday Blustery conditions with gusts of up to 70mph are expected, which could bring the first named storm of the season (file pic)'It has the potential to bring some strong winds, though the location of the strongest winds will be determined by the low position. At this stage, people should keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared for some unsettled weather at the end of the week.'The 12-hour warning means there is a 'slight chance' of damage to buildings, including tiles blown from roofs, the Met Office said.It added there was also a small chance of injuries from flying debris, transport disruption and power cuts.Those living or travelling through warning areas should prepare to protect their property by securing loose items including bins, garden furniture and trampolines.In coastal areas there could also be large waves, which the Met Office said could sweep members of the public off their feet and out to sea even if they were standing on the shore.It also advised to keep dogs on leads while near the water.A Met Office spokesman said the forecast could change quickly during periods of warning and said those in affected areas should stay up to date with news on the weather. Torrential rain and strong winds are on the way to parts of England and Wales this week (file pic)Friday is likely to be widely wet and windy but the low pressure is expected to clear into the North Sea later on Friday afternoon.This will pull colder air in across Britain on Friday night and into Saturday before another Atlantic front brings back mild conditions with further rain.Britain’s storm season reset at the beginning of September - which marked the start of meteorological autumn - with a fresh list of names agreed by the three cooperating weather authorities.Among the names on this year’s list, chosen by members of the public, are Finn, Killian and Phelim, with the first three storms set to be named Austen, Boelo and Chloe.More than 40,000 names were submitted after the weather authorities invited suggestions last year.The unsettled weather came after an extended period of summer heat which saw five heatwaves.From June 11 until this month, temperatures of at least 20C were recorded at least somewhere in Britain.And last month was the fourth-warmest September since records began in 1864, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.Though rainfall returned to around average in September after many regions were plunged into drought over the summer, the dry spell's effects are still clear. A red deer stag at sunrise in Richmond Park, London, at the beginning of this monthCidermakers have said they are set for the worst harvest since their records began in 1984 as apples ripened prematurely in the heat.At Burrow Hill Cider in Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset, where cider has been produced for over 300 years from its 200 acres of orchards, the crop is down about 50 per cent on last year.The 'extremely long and hot summer and lack of rainfall has meant the apples have ripened prematurely, are smaller than usual and have dropped to the ground by the stressed trees', the company said.Another effect of the hot summer could be a vibrant landscape of trees and encourage some flowers to bloom out of season, the National Trust said.Despite signs of a 'false autumn', in which drought–stressed tree leaves have turned brown and dropped early, the ingredients are still there for a colourful season – particularly if the coming weeks bring cooler, settled weather.The summer sunshine should produce strong colour in the healthy foliage that remains but it is likely to be more varied than usual, the trust adds.Some plants have responded to recent rain with fresh growth or a second flowering out of season – meaning there could be spots where maples are in autumn colour alongside rhododendrons in bloom.