The new year weekend is looking to be pretty wild as the Met Office issues a yellow warning for a spell of strong and gusty winds bringing some disruption to travel and services.

An active cold front will move east across England and Wales during Saturday and into Sunday and will be characterised by strong winds and some heavy rain.

Gusts of 45-50 mph will be felt widely, but squally near the cold front with some gusts around 60 mph, whilst the strongest gusts are likely near coasts in the west and south, with 65-75 mph in places.

Falmouth Packet: The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind over the weekendThe Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind over the weekend (Image: Met Office)

What should I do? Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance.

It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves. Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea.

Take care if walking near cliffs; know your route and keep dogs on a lead. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

What to expect • Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely • Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges likely • Probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer • Some short term loss of power and other services is possible • It’s likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves