A yellow warning for wind for North Wales, northern England, southern and eastern areas of Scotland came into force on Thursday at 05:00 GMT and will stay valid until 20:00. A warning issued for Northern Ireland is valid from 06:00 to 12:00 GMT.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland the strongest winds will move through during the morning. Gales will be widespread with gusts reaching 50-60mph with a few stronger gusts possible in the Hebrides for a short time. Some delays or cancellations on the Scottish ferries look possible, with passengers being advised to check for travel updates before setting out.
In northern England, the north Midlands and North Wales, winds will tend to strengthen through the morning, but will not peak until the afternoon. Gusts will widely reach 50-60mph with a few gusts potentially in excess of 70mph for a short time.
The strongest winds will not be limited to coasts and over the tops of hills, extending well to the east of the Pennines and the Cheviot Hills with some transport disruption possible.
The Woodhead Pass over the Pennines is currently closed to high-sided vehicles due to the wind. Northern stretches of the M6, A68 and A1 could have some of the most challenging driving conditions.