UK Storm Fear As Atlantic Hurricane Looms

The effects of hurricane Katia will be felt with 80mph winds set to hit parts of the country.

Gales and flooding are being predicted as the storm makes its way across the Atlantic.

Winds of up to 80mph are expected to be felt in large parts of Scotland on Monday, with northern England, Northern Ireland and north Wales also experiencing storms.

It is thought that the high winds may coincide with high tides with the western coast of the British Isles at risk of some flooding.

The gales could bring down trees, cause structural damage to buildings and disrupt transport services.

Forecasters say winds will ease as the week progresses, but blustery conditions will remain across most of the country.

Katia is the second major hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is rated as a category four storm, where level five is the fiercest.

It comes less than a month after Hurricane Irene battered the Caribbean and claimed 40 lives in America.

Bermuda has issued a tropical storm watch as while Katia is expected to remain over the ocean, the outer reaches of the storm could affect the island and its 70,000 residents.

The US National Hurricane Centre said the storm was moving northwest and would pass between Bermuda and the east coast of America on Wednesday and Thursday.

It is then expected to move away from the coast of US, eliminating any further threat to land.