A low-pressure system that will impact the UK this weekend has been named as Storm Ciara by the Met Office.

The system currently developing in the North Atlantic will bring strong winds and heavy rain across the whole of the UK through the end of the weekend and into the start of next week.

Wind gusts will widely reach 50-60mph across many inland areas but the strongest gusts in exposed locations could reach 80mph.

A yellow National Severe Weather warning for wind has been issued which currently covers the entire UK and is in force from 6pm on Saturday evening and all day Sunday until midnight. Storm Ciara can be expected to bring a range of disruption which may affect some power supplies and transport services across many parts of the UK.

Neil Armstrong is a chief forecaster with the Met Office. He said: “An extremely strong jet stream flowing from North America will be steering a succession of low-pressure systems towards the UK at least into the middle of next week. The relative predictability of this pattern has provided an early warning and has given us the certainty to be able to name this storm four days ahead.”

Before Storm Ciara arrives, Thursday will see high pressure dominating, bringing largely fine conditions to most of the UK with the potential for frost and fog in some locations.

By Friday evening conditions will start to become more unsettled with spells of rain and a developing breeze.

Saturday will be a relatively dry day for much of the UK before further strengthening winds and rain arrive from the west in the evening ahead of Storm Ciara.