The UK has been warned to brace for disruption from high winds and rain as Storm Otto approaches the UK.

The storm – the first to be named this winter – has been labelled Otto by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) and will move east across the far north of the UK from the early hours of Friday (February 17) morning, bringing gusts in excess of 75mph.

The Met Office has said the high winds will mean travel disruption and possible damage to buildings in the more harder hit areas and warned the drivers of high-sided vehicles to be careful.

It said there is also a danger of large waves on the North Sea coast “as well as a chance of some damage to buildings and infrastructure”.

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North London will receive the tail end of the storm – still seeing an increase in windspeed during the morning.

Wind speeds could reach 34mph, meaning it could be quite gusty out and about.

Meteorology website Weatherspark claims that the average windspeed in London during February is around 20mph.

Here are the hour-by-hour wind gust speeds for Hampstead Heath Youth Hostel on Friday, which show the highest wind speeds you should encounter at that time.

  • 6am: 31mph
  • 7am: 31mph
  • 8am: 31mph
  • 9am: 30mph
  • 10am: 30mph
  • 11am: 29mph
  • 12am: 28mph
  • 1pm: 28mph
  • 2pm: 26mph
  • 3pm: 24mph
  • 4pm: 23mph
  • 5pm: 22mph
  • 6pm: 20mph
  • 7pm: 20mph
  • 8pm: 20mph
  • 9pm: 22mph
  • 10pm: 22mph
  • 11pm: 24mph

 

Here is the weather for London during the next 24 hours according to the Met Office.

Thursday: “A cloudy start, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Rain easing from late morning to leave a largely dry and increasingly bright afternoon. Winds generally light, but breezy along the south coast during the morning. Feeling mild. Maximum temperature 13C.”

Thursday night: “A dry evening with occasional clear spells. Becoming increasingly cloudy and breezy overnight, but remaining largely dry. Mild for the time of year. Minimum temperature 7C.”

Friday: “Friday morning windy and largely cloudy, but mostly dry. Cloud thickening in the afternoon, bringing patchy light rain. Winds gradually easing later in the day. Maximum temperature 15C.”

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