Storm: Britain Prepares For '80mph Winds'
Hundreds of trains have been cancelled and a boy swept out to sea as Britain prepares for one of its worst storms in years.
The southern half of the UK is preparing for one of the strongest storms of recent years to hit in the next few hours.
They are then expected to blast across England and Wales throughout the day.
Torrential rain is also forecast and there are several flood warnings in place.
The storm is expected to bring severe disruption to transport, with train companies warning of widespread cancellations due to possible debris on the tracks.
Air travel, including 21 British Airways' flights, have also been affected, Sky News understands.
As the storm gets closer, police have said a 14-year-old boy has been swept out to sea while swimming at Newhaven, East Sussex.
Coastguard and a lifeboat are searching for the teenager. Sussex Police have warned people to "stay clear" of seashores during the adverse weather.
The storm has drawn comparisons with the Great Storm of 1987, when 18 people died and thousands of homes were without power for several days.
Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.
This time he has warned people to "batten down the hatches" and to delay their journey by two or three hours on Monday morning.
"If you draw a line from about Aberystwyth to the Humber - everywhere south of there looks like getting affected by strong winds, to the north of that the problem is going to be heavy rain and localised flooding.
"These strong winds aren't going to last all that long, but they are going to be unfortunately getting up around about rush hour time, so the message we're trying to convey at the moment is to delay your journey just by two or three hours in the morning, and then you should be safe."
His comments were echoed by senior fire chiefs who have urged people to stay indoors if possible, and to take extra care if venturing out.
Meteorologists have warned the fierce winds and torrential rain could leave a trail of destruction, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and power lines.
Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.
He was updated on preparations and contingency planning for transport, schools, hospitals, councils and power supplies.
Mr Cameron was told that the storm could have "a widespread impact", but that transport providers, local Government, emergency services and power companies had plans in place to respond.
The much-anticipated storm has been named St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is tomorrow.
Insurance companies have advised households to take steps to protect themselves and their property.
People should also establish evacuation plans, place valuable items upstairs to limit flood damage and ensure gutters are clear so water can drain away.
The Environment Agency says 20-40mm of rain could fall within six to nine hours.
A spokesman said: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle."
Severe weather alerts are in place, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.
A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", has been issued for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.
Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday.
"So Monday morning’s rush hour looks like being chaotic with travel and power interruptions anticipated.
"The public are advised to take the greatest care - and to carry a fully charged mobile if travel is necessary.
"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees.”
She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.
But the storm is expected to intensify near to the mainland before it hits the south-west coast with full force and sweeps north-east across the country, with a strong jetstream and warm air close to the UK contributing to its development and strength.
Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads."
The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.
