A yellow weather warning has been issued as ferocious gale force 75mph winds are set to batter parts of the UK.
The Met Office says winds are expected to develop over the Western Isles during the early hours with the Outer Hebrides likely to see the strongest winds.
A Met Office spokeswoman said: "A brief period of strong to gale west to southwesterly winds will transfer quickly eastwards across the rest of the warning area on Thursday morning, gusts typically around 50mph, but perhaps approaching 60mph in a few locations.
"Whilst such wind speeds are not unusual for the time of year, recently weakened trees and structures may mean a greater likelihood of localised damage or disruption."
Forecasters say Brits should be prepared for some short term loss of power and other services, some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport and difficult driving conditions and possible delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges.
The warnings for wind is one of three yellow weather warnings in place for today and tomorrow with the strong winds starting in parts of Scotland from 3am on Thursday.
The other two warnings, from the Met Office, warn of ice across Northern Ireland and snow in parts of Scotland.
The snow warning begins at 4pm today and lasts until 10am tomorrow, while the ice for Northern Ireland begins at 6pm tonight until 11am tomorrow.
The freeze is set to last through the week, with Thursday now predicted to be the most likely day for snow to fall as temperatures plunge to lows of -7C in Scotland.
Senior British Weather Services meteorologist Jim Dale said conditions on Thursday will be perfect for snow.
Snow is expected to be widespread when it covers the isles next week - with southern England also set to lie in its icy path.
Mr Dale told the Express, the risk for the next 10 days is between two and three centimetres of snowfall in northern areas and more than ten times that for mountainous parts of the country.
Regions and local authorities affected by the wind warning
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Angus
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
Grampian
- Aberdeenshire
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
Regions and local authorities affected by the ice warning
Northern Ireland
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
Regions and local authorities affected by the snow warning
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
Grampian
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Highland
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
