Forecasters are advising revellers at Leeds Festival to secure their tents and drivers to take care on the roads as Storm Lilian surges through Yorkshire today (Friday).
Gusts of up to 80mph are expected, with travel disruption, flooding, power cuts and dangerous conditions near coastal areas all likely.
A yellow wind warning has come into force covering northern England until 11am, with the storm widely expected to bring gusts of 50-60mph in the region.
The official X account of the Met Office posted at 5am: “Winds are now strengthening in many areas with the strongest winds occurring during the next few hours across northern England and north Wales
“Damaging gusts are possible in places so ensure you stay #WeatherAware.”
Northern Powergrid engineers are on alert. The electricity company says it is ready to respond to any power cuts caused by the storm.
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “The strongest winds are likely to start forming through the early hours initially across parts of north Wales into the Liverpool, Blackpool area, and then crossing over the Pennines and into the east and north-east England – Yorkshire, up to Northumberland before then clearing out into the North Sea.
“So it’s really quite quick.”
Warning campers at Leeds Festival, Mr Dewhurst added: “The wind will pick up in that area through the night, particularly strongest towards dawn and then first thing in the morning, before then easing through the morning.
“So there could be potentially some impacts from those strong winds, of 50 to 60mph in the area so it’s worth making sure your tents are secured.
“There could also be disruption first thing to the transport networks for those travelling first thing.”
Lillian’s influence would “wane” by Friday afternoon as it reduced in intensity and pushed off into the North Sea, with scattered showers for most of the rest of the day, Mr Dixon said.
After the possibility of some heavy showers early on Saturday, settled conditions were likely to develop across southern and eastern England and Wales with sunny spells and dry conditions mixed with the odd chance of scattered showers.