BBC Weather’s Louise Lear earlier added that the winds “will strengthen further and it’s Wednesday when we really could see some very heavy rain”.

Where exactly that rain will fall remains unclear, she said, “but at the moment, the heaviest looks likely across west-facing coasts, drifting their way steadily north, with Gale-force gusts… across the far north of Scotland”.

“But there is the potential that East Anglia and south east England will escape the rain during the day and see some sunshine,” she continued.

“If that happens, we could get temperatures peaking at 21C… way above where they should be for this stage of October.”

Thursday is not looking “too bad a day”, she added – suggesting it was likely to be dry with some sunny spells and a few scattered showers in the west.

The rest of the country is expected to see strong winds and a band of heavy rain pushing eastwards on Friday.

Next weekend is “looking pretty unsettled”, according to Mr Morgan, with the north west, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, being wet and windy, but possibly less so in the south east.