THE Met Office has warned of a weekend of disruption after issuing a yellow weather warning for wind in the South West.

The warning will come into force from 6am on Sunday (February 23) with strong winds expected to peak in the late morning to early afternoon.

Forecasters warn gusts of 50-60mph and up to 70mph in areas of higher ground are expected.

The Met Office says rain will accompany the strong wind, which will make for poor weather conditions, especially on roads, which could bring disruption throughout the day.

Residents across the South West should expect delays to travel and some short term loss of power and other services.

Warnings for wind and rain have been issued across the country as the UK’s weather conditions will shift in the coming days.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Mike Silverstone, said: “The weather will be turning milder for much of the country from Thursday, but this transition heralds the start of some potentially more impactful wind and rain. While Thursday will see blustery winds and rain for many, it’s Friday when we could see more impacts, with warnings issued for wind and rain.”

“On Friday, south and west Wales, south west Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland will see the strongest winds, possibly around 70mph on exposed coasts and around 60mph more widely within the warning areas. Rain is an additional hazard, with 30-40mm likely in parts of Scotland over a six-hour period, and up to around 70mm possible over higher ground within the warning areas.”

There are currently rain and wind warnings in place on Friday, February 21, with winds of up to 70 mph expected to hit parts of the country, including Northern Ireland, southwest Scotland and Wales.

An additional yellow rain warning has also been issued for Sunday which affects most of the country including the south west.