Heavy downpours and winds of up to 75mph are set to batter the UK as soon as tomorrow, with three yellow weather warnings issued already.

On Thursday, the wet and windy conditions may cause travel disruption, flooding, power cuts and damage to buildings within the alert areas, according to the Met Office.

A yellow weather warning for rain covers most of southern England, the east Midlands, parts of Wales and Yorkshire and is in place all of Thursday until 9 pm, the forecaster said.

Those within the affected regions have been warned by the weather service to expect heavy rainfall from Wednesday evening, with up to 50mm in some areas by early Thursday morning.

The downpours may cause disruption to public transport, difficult driving conditions because of spray and road flooding, as well as the flooding of some homes and businesses, the forecaster said.

Where are weather warnings in place for the UK?

For the majority of the yellow alert area, gusts of up to 55mph are expected with 65mph possible near coasts, the Met Office said.

Strong winds may lead to power cuts, transport disruption and damage to buildings, with a small chance of injuries and danger to life caused by large waves and beach material being thrown onto seafronts and coastal roads, the forecaster warned.

In addition to the warning covering most of southern England and Wales, a separate warning for wind on Thursday is in place from 9am until midnight, covering the east of England up to Scarborough, where gusts of up to 75mph may develop.

Another yellow alert for wind on Thursday covers southwest England and parts of Wales, including Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Swansea and Pembrokeshire.

Gusts of up to 45mph are expected widely within this area, while winds of up to 60mph could be reached along exposed coasts and headlands, according to the forecaster.

What is the weather forecast for the weekend?

Luckily, the worst of the weather will pass by Friday, with clearer skies expected and cooler temperatures seen across the UK.

The temperatures will likely feel even cooler than normal thanks to the rain.

What will the next UK storm be called if it is named?

If the weather continues to worsen and turns into another storm, the next name in line is Storm Bram.

The UK's Met Office, in partnership with Ireland's Met Éireann and the Dutch national weather forecasting service KNMI, has announced the list of this year's storm names in September.

Many people put forward suggestions in tribute to loved ones and even favourite pets, even ideas in honour of husbands who snore louder than storms or little girls who leave chaos in their wakes.

But the Met Office said the purpose of naming storms was a serious one - to help people take notice, prepare and stay safe in severe weather.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Map shows where UK will be hit by 75mph winds and heavy rain today