A WEATHER warning for strong winds in Somerset has been escalated to ‘amber’ with ‘danger to life’ Storm Darragh expected to arrive in the UK tomorrow.

The Met Office initially issued a yellow alert for wind and rain across Somerset and most of England tomorrow, with gusts and flash flooding expected to bring difficult driving conditions.

But the Met Office has now issued an amber warning for wind and while Devon and Cornwall are expected to bear the brunt, power cut, debris, and road closures could strike Somerset.

Storm Darragh follows a period of unsettled and squally conditions and a large area of low pressure is expected to bring a period of strong winds to much of the UK.

Heavy rain will also be a feature of Storm Darragh with the heaviest rainfall expected to be focussed in the northern and western parts of the warning area. Some hill snow in the north is also expected.

Jason Kelly, a chief Met Office forecaster, said: “Storm Darragh is an evolving system and will bring several hazards, including wind gusts of up to 70-80mph around western coasts, especially from Devon and Cornwall to southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“Wind speeds in inland areas will be slightly reduced with maximum gusts expected to reach 60-70mph.”

A series of yellow weather warnings will remain in force until Sunday.

Dale Hipkiss, duty manager at National Highways, said: “If you're planning to drive over the next few days, prepare in advance for the journey and take extra care on the roads.

“If weather conditions become challenging, adjust your driving behaviour to manage the conditions as safely as possible. It’s also a good idea for drivers to check their vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, before heading out to reduce the risk of breakdowns.”