Storm Caroline: Met Office warns of potential risk to life as UK set to be battered by 90mph winds

Caroline is expected to bring large waves to seafronts

Storm Caroline is expected to batter the UK with gusts of up to 90mph and poses a potential risk to life, the Met Office says.

Across the UK, conditions will start to turn wet and blustery overnight, especially across the North and North West, with strong winds expected early on Thursday.

An amber (second highest) weather warning is in place between 6am and 11.55pm for Highlands and Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland and Grampian, where winds of 60-70mph are expected widely.

Amid gusts of up to 90mph, flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life, according to the Met Office. Damage to buildings is also possible, such as tiles blowing off roofs.

Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected as cancellations are likely.

Caroline, the third named storm of the year, is also expected to cause power cuts and bring large waves to coastal routes, seafronts and coastal communities in northern Scotland.

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Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The strongest winds will be across the North West during Thursday morning and then later in the North East.

"However, there is also a yellow wind warning in force for the rest of Scotland and the north of Northern Ireland for Thursday, as gusts up to 60-70mph are expected quite widely there.

"There will also be frequent showers across the north and west of the UK and Ireland through the day, which will turn increasingly to sleet and snow, mainly over high ground.

"The wintry showers combined with the strong gusty winds will likely cause poor visibility on the roads and therefore disruption to travel."

Almost half of the workers on a North Sea platform have been relocated amid safety fears over conditions on Thursday.

CNR International said 69 of the 159 staff on Ninian South, about 240 miles from Aberdeen, would be leaving the structure as a precaution.

Later this week, snow and falling temperatures are forecast for parts of Britain.

Snow showers will affect northern Scotland later on Thursday, while a yellow snow and ice warning is in place for Scotland, Northern Ireland, western England and Wales on Friday.