Storm Helene to bring 70mph winds ... along with 79F heat!

BRITAIN will be battered by gales of up to 70mph today – but will also see temperatures as high as 26C (79F) as Tropical Storm Helene swoops in.

Trees could be uprooted and electricity lines downed, warned the Met Office.

It issued a yellow weather warning, predicting the conditions, including flying debris, could cause chaos for commuters. Gales – surging up to 70mph in West Wales – and rain are likely to cause travel disruption tonight and tomorrow morning.

Large waves are also expected in western coastal areas. But the storm will bring with it hot air from Europe, meaning a return of balmy temperatures. The South and East will be especially warm, with 26C (79F) forecast for London – around 8C above the average for this time of year.

North-West England, Wales and southern Scotland will be worstaffected by the wet, blustery weather as Helene rips across the Irish Sea.

Martin Bowles, of the Met Office, said: ‘Trees could be uprooted as they’re still in full leaf and are more likely to be blown over in strong winds than they would be in the middle of winter.’ As Helene moves away, temperatures will fall, and by Friday it is likely to be up to 8C cooler than at the start of the week. Paul Knightley, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: ‘The storm will bring hot air with it but by the end of the week temperatures will drop considerably.’

The world’s strongest storm of the year yesterday wreaked havoc in Hong Kong and China after killing at least 64 people in the Philippines.

Skyscrapers swayed in 125mph winds and windows were blown out as Typhoon Mangkhut swept through Hong Kong. Water levels surged by 12ft and fish swam in flooded streets.

Around 2.5million people were evacuated in Guangdong, China. Hundreds were injured in the country.