Drivers and passengers are being warned that falling trees could pose deadly risks and disrupt their journeys as two storms are set to sweep across the UK, bringing winds of up to 80mph and heavy rain.

The Met Office says there may be flooding, and has issued weather warnings for very strong northwesterly winds, with widespread gusts of 60-70mph in the southwest and some of up to 80mph around exposed headlands.

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is expected to affect southwest England on Friday (23 October), with an amber warning for wind issued in Cornwall , Devon and the Isles of Scilly from 1am.

Over the weekend, Storm Boelo will hit Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England with what the Met Office described as “impactful winds”.

There will be “widespread gusts” of 55-65mph widely, with these reaching up to 70-80mph in more exposed coastal locations, the Met Office added.

Storm Boelo is a separate low pressure system to Storm Austen, which is due to clear into the…