Winds of up to 50mph are set to hit Suffolk tonight as stormy weather sweeps across the country, forecasters have said.

Rain is expected to lash the county as a deep low pressure system from Scotland brings fierce winds to the region, predicted to reach its peak between 9pm and midnight.

Phil Garner, forecaster at Norwich-based Weatherquest, said the gusts will not be “as strong as we have recently seen” and is not likely to cause major problems.

Two weeks ago hundreds of people in Suffolk and north-east Essex were forced to flee their homes as the worst tidal surge in 60 years swept down the East Anglian coast.

Mr Garner said: “There will be some quite strong winds which will gradually pick up as the day goes on, with nothing too strong until the evening with winds touching 45mph-50mph.

“Rain will be coming through as well but winds will moderate after midnight. It is set to be bright and breezy start to the day tomorrow morning.”

He said a weather front moving east from the Republic of Ireland to Scotland is set to cause the adverse conditions.

“It might bring down fence panels but it will not be as strong as we have recently seen and should not cause major problems,” Mr Garner added, saying temperatures should be around 4C (39F) tonight.

Meanwhile Suffolk residents dreaming of a white Christmas are likely to have their hopes dashed as Mr Garner forecast a wet and windy December 25.

“It’s a long way off yet but the early indications are that, rather than a white Christmas, it is more likely to be wet and windy,” Mr Garner said.

“It will be a cloudy morning in Suffolk with rain developing for a time before clearing away in the afternoon. It will be breezy and relatively mild at around 7C (45F).”

He said gusts could reach up to 30mph on Christmas Day, adding they will not be “too damaging”.