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Last Modified: 09 Mar 2008
By: Lucy Manning

Preparations under way as a deep depression heads for Britain -- the most severe storm of the winter's about to start - according to forecasters.

High winds are forecast to reach gale force speeds tomorrow - creating worries that the severe weather could cause problems across the country.

The Environment Agency is grappling with flood warnings - and government officials are meeting to discuss the threat posed by the storm.

Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for the latest flood warnings in yourarea.
- Environmental Agency

In Abberaeron in Wales they were getting out the sandbags. It's a port town and exposed coastal areas have been declared no go areas until Wednesday, due to the high waves that are expected.

The storm is forecast to develop out of a strong jet stream which moved out Canada yesterday and is due to arrive here overnight.

The severe weather warnings issued by the Met Office shows just how bad it could be - by tomorrow large areas of the country will be on alert. The Republic of Ireland has also issued its own severe weather warning .

Southerly winds are expected to strengthen through the night buffeting the south and south east with the full force of the storm coinciding with rush our tomorrow morning

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As the day progresses the wind will switch to the west. By the afternoon severe gales are predicted to hit the south west of England and Wales.

This evening seven Severe Flood Warnings are in place around the Devon and Cornish coastline - stretching from Exeter in the south to Lynmouth in north Devon.

There are also 24 Flood Warnings dotted along the southern coastline as far east as Portsmouth and the isle of Wight, and alerts also along the Severn Estuary and Somerset coast

On the roads, motorists have been warned to expect dangerous driving conditions over the next few days. Britain's airports say they are prepared for possible delays or cancellations to flights

Network Rail has warn of potential problems with overhead lines and trees on the track and on the ferries - P&O has already cancelled some crossings and there are delays on others.

As they hastily strengthen the flood defences on the Pembrokeshire coast, they're hoping the warnings prove to be over cautious - but just in case they're taking no chances,