Hurricane Gabrielle set to smash UK as weather map turns purple

Storm Gabrielle could soon affect the weather in the UK as maps show a brutal storm battering parts of the country. The storm will no longer be a hurricane by the time it reaches Britain, but it could still bring strong winds and heavy rain when it eventually makes its way to UK shores. The storm is on a path across the Atlantic Ocean after it was formed near Bermuda, moving away from the North America towards Europe.

The Met Office has warned that it could affect the west of the country as it nears the UK. The ex-hurricane would reach the UK between September 26 and October 5, the Met Office has warned. Storm Gabrielle has already seen winds as strong as 75 miles per hour, as recorded by the United States' Miami-based National Hurricane Center. The Met Office has said that Storm Gabrielle ends a long spell of no Atlantic tropical storms hitting the UK.

The office's forecast for the period between September 26 and October 5 said that conditions are likely to start off as rather calm and settled. However, Storm Gabrielle could bring some major weather changes to much of the country.

The Met Office said: "We then enter into a very uncertain period as thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain try to push in from the Atlantic.

"Confidence in any breakdown to unsettled weather however is very low, influenced by ex-Hurricane Gabrielle, which may approach the UK during this time."

The forecast adds: "On balance some rain, and potentially some strong winds are likely to affect at least the west of the UK.

"The following week will most likely see a west to east split, with wettest weather remaining in western areas. Temperatures around to above average."

Unfavourable weather has already hit the UK, as many parts of the country were given yellow rain warnings. Rain and wind warnings were issued for Wales, northern England and the Midlands. This resulted in a number of flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency across England and Wales.

The Met Office has not issued any weather warnings in relation to Storm Gabrielle making landfall in the UK.