Forecasters have warned that winds could reach gale force in the east tonight as a storm makes its way across Britain.

In their evening weather podcast tonight Weatherquest said winds from the west would gather pace, possibly touching gale force.

Already today high winds have swept across the west of the UK. 15,000 people have been left without power in Ireland where a 23-year-old woman has died after a tree fell on her car in Mullingar, County Westmeath at about 4.05pm today,

Winds of 70-80mph are forecast in Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland, where an orange “be prepared” warning is in place.

South-west England and much of western Wales are under a less severe “be aware” warning from the Met Office, with gusts of between 50 to 70mph possible.

The Environment Agency has issued 17 flood warnings and 110 flood alerts, most clustered in the west of the UK, but some in central and eastern areas.

The roof of the Kent railway station in Cork, Ireland, has also partially collapsed on Wednesday, leaving a passenger with minor injuries.