Storm Clodagh is battering Scotland with strong winds and heavy rain

And the storm hell will last all week, with the Environment Agency issuing 32 flood warnings across Britain.

Today’s rain warning is in place between 6.15am and 11.45pm, with the equivalent for the strong winds in place from 9am until 6pm.

Winds speeds will strengthen from the west on Saturday morning with coastlines exposed to the west and south west experiencing 60mph gusts, the Met Office said.

“There will be hill snow in south Scotland later and strong winds on the south coast”.

A shop roof was blown off on Moorfield Avenue in Denton, Tameside, causing damage to a auto. Occupants living in flats above the shops had to be given temporary shelter for the night.

The Christmas lights switch on Middlesborough, due to take place tonight, has now been cancelled due to the bad weather.

Later Sunday, Clodagh will pass through Scotland and the North Sea towards southern Scandinavia where it is expected to deepen further.

“We’re going to see three-quarters of that fall in just one or two days”, said forecaster Marco Petagna.

Fallen trees caused delays on the Northern Rail service between Carlisle and Lancaster, while the Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service had to deal with at least eight weather-related incidents.

“We should be expecting it to stay windy with spells of rain and snow on the higher grounds”.

‘In the coming week it will be quite a similar picture as low pressure comes in from the Atlantic.

It is the third storm to be named by the Met office after Storms Abigail and Barney.

Up to three centimetres of snow is forecast in certain parts of the county, particularly on higher ground, so motorists in Donegal should be particularly wary when taking to the road this morning.

It could be 15C (59 F) on Tuesday in the south-east of England – well above average for early December.