Storm Ciarán – latest: 100mph ‘weather bomb’ will be worst to hit UK in 69 years

Storm Ciarán is set to batter the UK with 100mph winds, torrential rain and a powerful ‘weather bomb’ in the coming hours.

A red weather warning – the most severe -is in place across the Channel Islands, where the ‘weather bomb’ is expected to bring hurricane-force gales that will cause blackouts, cancelled flights and travel chaos.

Forecasters are predicting Ciarán to be the worst storm to hit Britain for 69 years.

The Met Office has issued a pair of amber ‘danger to life’ warnings for wind along the entire south coast of England.

Panic buying has broke out in shops in the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, where residents have been advised to ‘avoid outside activity’.

Meanwhile on England’s south coast, 90mph gusts are due to hit on Thursday and wind speeds of up to 60mph further inland.