Millions of people in parts of Wales and south-west England have been told to stay at home as forecasters warn of a danger Storm Darragh brings winds of up to 90 mph.
The Met Office has issued its highest-level red weather warning as potentially life-threatening weather is expected. The alert is in place from 03:00 to 11:00 GMT on Saturday.
Western and southern Wales along with the Bristol Channel coast are all covered by the warning. The storm is expected to cause “significant disruption”, the Met Office said.
Around three million people in the affected area received a government emergency alert on their mobile phones on Friday evening advising them to stay indoors.
The alert added that people should “consider gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items you already have at home”, in case of power cuts.
Friday’s message was the largest use yet of the UK warning system and made a loud siren-like sound when delivered to devices, lasting for around 10 seconds.
“Being outside in high winds makes you vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors if you can,” it said.
The last Met Office red warning was issued in January for winds in north-east Scotland.
The strongest winds reached the west coast of Ireland on Friday night before moving east towards the Irish Sea.
Late on Friday evening, winds were beginning to pick up across Wales and south-west England, with the highest gusts reaching 74mph in north-west Wales.
Amber warnings in Northern Ireland, Wales and western England are in place until Saturday morning, while other parts of the UK have lower-level yellow weather warnings.
Bristol Airport warned passengers that “disruption is expected” for the weekend, and passengers are advised to check with their airline before travelling.
Cardiff Airport said it will not operate flights during the red warning and advised travellers to to contact their airline or tour operator.
Both bridges linking England and south Wales – the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge and M48 Severn Bridge – have been closed due to Storm Darragh.
In Wales, all domestic football and rugby matches scheduled for Saturday have been cancelled, as has Cardiff City’s Championship fixture against Watford which had been due to kick off at 15:00 GMT.
All of London’s Royal Parks will be closed on Saturday, including the Winter Wonderland attraction in Hyde Park.
In Northern Ireland, where there is an amber weather warning until 21:00 GMT, multiple Christmas events have been cancelled this weekend.
Belfast City Council said its Christmas market would be closed on Saturday, while the Enchanted Winter Garden events at Antrim Castle Gardens had been cancelled for Friday and Saturday.
Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm of the season following Bert and Conall which caused extreme flooding last month.
