THE Met Office has issued a yellow-category weather warning, affecting the whole of Gwent, for strong winds on Friday night and much of Saturday.

The warm bank holiday weather will be in stark contrast to this weekend, with one forecaster warning the wind factor could make conditions "feel more like January".

Storm Hannah could bring gusts of up to 70 miles per hour (mph) to coastal areas, and winds of 45-55mph inland.

#StormHannah has been named by @MetEireann. The storm will bring severe gales to Ireland on Friday night, with strong winds also expected for southern parts of the UK pic.twitter.com/esuddjvNyP — Met Office (@metoffice) April 25, 2019

Ireland will bear the brunt of the storm, but the Met Office warns southern Wales and south-western areas of England will also be affected.

The yellow weather warning will be in place from 9pm on Friday, April 26, until 3pm the following day.

As #StormHannah moves eastwards we've probably seen the strongest winds, but gusts over 60 mph are still possible around exposed parts today pic.twitter.com/rNX3Syoiok — Met Office (@metoffice) April 27, 2019

The Met Office said to expect some delays to road and rail services, delays for high-sided vehicles on bridges, and possible power cuts caused by fallen branches.

It is predicted Hannah – the fourth named storm in the UK and Ireland in 2019 after Erik, Freya and Gareth – will lead to a much cooler Saturday, in contrast to the hot and sunny bank holiday weekend.

Highs of 20C were recorded by the Usk weather station on what was the warmest Easter Sunday on record in Wales, but highs of just 12C are expected this weekend.

Alex Deakin, a Met Office meteorologist, told the Press Association: "It will be such a shock when you compare it to last Saturday. Some places could be 15C lower than last Saturday. It's incredible, really.

"Some places through Saturday may be struggling in the single figures, while last Saturday we were in the mid twenties.

"It's going to be a much colder feel, and that's temperatures on the thermometer – when you add on the strength of the wind on Saturday, it's going to feel more like January at times, especially compared to last weekend when it felt like summer."

Storm Hannah is coming and the sight screens need anchoring.

All cricket has been cancelled this weekend. 🏏 pic.twitter.com/xGtc0tBF9Y — Newport Cricket Club (@NewportCricketC) April 26, 2019

Some events have already been postponed because of the weather, including Newport Parkrun and Newport Cricket Club's matches.