80mph storms heading for Calderdale this weekend

It is expected to arrive on Friday, with yellow wind warnings in place across much of the UK by Saturday evening.

Forecasters say the jet stream will bring with it wind speeds of up to 250mph at flying level - and that conditions could rival the storm-like weather which battered parts of southern England at the end of 2013.

Mark Wilson, of the Met Office, said: “We have got a very strong jet stream caused by the very cold conditions in northern America. The speed by the end of the week will be 200 - 250mph.

“It will be similar to the weather we had (at the end of 2013) - potentially as strong but in a very different location.

“Winds will be 80mph or more across northern Scotland, although it will be windy everywhere.”

Tens of thousands of homes were left without power, trees were uprooted, trains and flights cancelled and floods crippled huge swathes of the UK when storms arrived on the south coast in October 2013.

Meteorologist Mr Wilson said northern Scotland had a climate which was better suited to harsh winds, compared with the south of England.

He said: “Our best advice is to be aware of the strong winds and to check our weather warnings.

“It could have an impact on transport and services, and cause structural damage.”

Wind speeds of almost 100mph were recorded on the south coast of England two months ago, prompting further weather warnings.