Dorset and much of the UK is braced for a night of heavy rain and winds before Storm Brian batters the country this weekend.

Gusts of between 50mph (80kph) and 70mph (113kph) are expected to coincide with high tides across the south of England on Saturday, with the potential to cause treacherous waves in coastal areas.

The second named storm of the season, caused by a "weather bomb" of low pressure in the Atlantic Ocean, may also cause flooding along the coast, The Met Office said.

The weather service has now extended its yellow warning for wind to the whole of the southern and western coast of England from 4am on Saturday, with south-westerly areas thought to be among the worst affected.

The hazardous conditions come days after Storm Ophelia wrought havoc in Ireland on Monday, killing three people when the ex-tropical storm toppled trees and caused widespread damage which left thousands of homes without power.

The Irish meteorological office, Met Eireann, has issued an orange warning for wind across the south of the country from 6am on Saturday.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the risk of strong winds in England has now also extended further north than first thought.

He said: "The rain and strong winds have edged a little further northwards.

"Gusts of 50-60mph inland seem fairly plausible, and around exposed coastal areas we can expect to see winds of between 60-70mph.

"The worst risk areas are along the south coast and the west coast, but even heading as far north as north-west England, such as the west coast of Cumbria and Lancashire, which are now in the yellow warning area."

Earlier on Thursday, Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said "dramatic waves" could also pose a threat to life as Storm Brian moves in on Saturday, and warned against anyone tempted to pose for "storm selfies" along the coast.

The Environment Agency will be monitoring Portland Beach Road and Preston Road tomorrow for potential flooding.

The road may need to be closed at short notice.

Network Rail, working with train operators, has activated its weather contingency plans for some routes and is advising passengers to plan for possible travel disruption.

Passengers should check before they travel by visiting nationalrail.co.uk.

Network Rail’s weather contingencies include the introduction of temporary speed restrictions to protect passengers and train crew from the effects of high winds, which can blow trees and other debris onto railway lines and overhead power lines.

With trains running at a reduced top speed (typically of around 50mph), drivers are better able to bring trains to a halt if anything is spotted ahead.

People living near the railway can help by ensuring garden furniture, equipment and trampolines are secure and not at risk of being blown onto the tracks or overhead power lines.

Subject to change, temporary speed restrictions are planned to be in place this weekend on several routes, including:

  • Between London and Brighton, plus Sussex coastal routes
  • Kent coastal routes, including between Faversham, Ramsgate, Dover and Ashford
  • Hampshire coastal routes, including from Petersfield to Portsmouth and Weymouth
  • The majority of routes in Wales

As a result, there will be changes to some services and passengers are advised to check before they travel. Other speed restrictions may be imposed as the storm develops.

Network Rail is also monitoring the sea wall through Devon with ‘spray watch’ in place to ensure trains are safe to pass along the sea front.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “We are keeping a close eye on Storm Brian and are doing everything we can to prepare for severe weather.

"We are deploying additional teams across the railway network to remove debris quickly and safely if we need to, and to keep passengers moving.”