8.23am GMT

The Environment Agency is warning that some homes may have to be evacuated on the east coast, as it issue 140 flood alerts across England and Wales with 3,000 properties expected to suffer from flooding in the next 24 hours.

David Rooke, director of flood and coastal risk management at the agency, said residents should be "braced for some of the most serious coastal flooding we have probably seen for at least 30 years and in some cases for over 60 years".

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said areas close to estuaries on the east coast were particularly vulnerable to a tidal flood surge.

"People will be getting advice from the emergency services in terms of being prepared to evacuate, and then where necessary being advised to evacuate," he said.

Rooke added: "We are talking about today [Thursday] and tomorrow. We will be operating our barriers. The whole of the Thames barrier will be operated on Friday." Flood defences have been activated at Colne in Essex and in Hull.

Agency spokesman Peter Fox told PA: "The most important thing is that along the east coast (of England) the high tide will be hitting in the hours of darkness this evening and tonight, so people really need to take the daylight hours today to prepare for the coastal and tidal flooding that we are predicting."

The EA has issued a severe flood warning - the highest category, warning of danger to life - to homes and businesses near The Quay in Sandwich, Kent, for high tides between 12.45am and 1pm tomorrow.

The tidal reaches of the River Trent, Nottinghamshire, could also be affected today.

On the west coast, severe gales and large waves combined with high water levels are also expected from Cumbria down to Cheshire.

Natural Resources Wales is urging people along the north Wales coast between eastern Anglesey and Liverpool to be prepared for flooding today.

The Met Office has issued a wide range of weather warnings, with winds expected to gust to more than 80mph as they swing north-westerly in mid-morning, with gusts of more than 90mph in exposed parts.

Much of Scotland faces "be prepared" warnings for wind and lesser "be alert" warnings for snow, while north west and north east England, Yorkshire and Humber, the Midlands, and the east of England are under "be prepared" warnings.

A major traffic route into Leeds city centre, past Bridgewater Place tower - the tallest building in Yorkshire - is being closed today after predictions that wind speeds in the area could reach 75mph.

Apart from Sandwich in Kent, the others areas with severe flood warnings are in East Anglia. They are:

• West Mersea in Essex, The Strood and adjacent marshland

• Southwold in Suffolk and surrounding marshes

• Snape and Iken in Suffolk, and surrounding marshland

• Aldeburgh and Thorpeness in Suffolk

• Blythburgh in Suffolk and the marshes upstream of the A12

• Riverside Business Park in Lowestoft and Kirkley in Suffolk

• The south bank of Lake Lothing and Bourne Business Park to Mutford Lock in Lowestoft

• Oulton Broad near Mutford Lock in Lowestoft

• The north bank of Lake Lothing

• The River Bure in Norfolk, from Scare Gap to the Euro Centre Industrial Estate at Great Yarmouth

• Lowestoft Seafront and Docks;

• The River Yare in Great Yarmouth at South Denes, from Wimpey Quay to the sea

• The River Yare at Great Yarmouth from the pilot station to lower ferry

• The Rivers Yare and Bure at Great Yarmouth from South Quay to Bure Park

• The River Yare from Gorleston-On-Sea in Norfolk to Breydon Bridge including Southtown and Cobholm Island

• The north Norfolk coast villages of Salthouse; Blakeney; and Wells Quay