Double storm to roar into Britain this week unleashing heavy rain and 80mph gales

The UK is set to be hit by heavy downpours and gale-force winds in a matter of days before the tail end of Hurricane Melissa sweeps the country, maps suggest. Parts of the country will be blasted with strong winds and stormy weather from Thursday, October 30, according to new forecasts. Winds of more than 80mph are expected on the coast of western England and Scotland on Thursday, with northern regions including Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria, alongside Northern Ireland, predominantly impacted, the maps suggest.

Maps generated by WXCharts on October 28 also show downpours of up to 71mm from Sunday, November 2, as part of a "broadly unsettled" weather front influenced by Hurricane Melissa, the powerful Category 5 storm closing in on Jamaica this week. As well as bringing the heaviest rainfall to Scotland, particularly around Dumfries in the southwest, downpours could batter a huge stretch of western England, with 40mm falling on the Cumbrian coast and around 50mm in southern Wales on the weekend.

Southern and inland areas are less likely to be hit by the wind and rain, but a slice of the country from the East Midlands down to the southwest could record winds of up to 60km per hour towards the end of the week.

The disruptive weather kickstarting next month will be minimally impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Melissa, the world's most powerful storm of the year, which has already killed three people in Jamaica, according to the Met Office.

A spokesperson told Yahoo News: "Hurricane Melissa is expected to lose its tropical characteristics in the North Atlantic and likely dissipate as a distinct system later this week.

"There is a small chance that the remanents could influence UK weather next week, although the picture will become clearer closer to the time ... The system could help maintain the broadly unsettled conditions already affecting the UK."

The forecaster's long-range weather prediction also suggests a period of low pressure and "changeable and unsettled" conditions will dominate the UK in early November, with "strong winds likely [and] severe gales a possibility".

Today:

Dry and sunny in most parts of England, with cloud and showers in the north, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Interludes of patchy rain and wind.

Tonight:

Wet in northern areas with an overnight frost but dry in other regions with wind continuing to build across the board.

Wednesday:

Gales growing in the north with intermittent sunshine and showers elsewhere. Drier weather more likely later in the day in southern England.

Outlook from Thursday to Saturday:

Sunny and cool conditions gradually turning wet and windy in the southwest. Heavy showers and wind continuing over the weekend, with short spells of brighter weather in some areas.