Gales of up to 80mph are forecast to sweep across parts of the UK with the arrival of Storm Brendan.

The Met Office has issued warnings of disruption to travel services and potential power cuts on Monday and Tuesday.

On Sunday, HM Coastguard urged people living in coastal communities to take care after a search-and-rescue operation in the sea off Blackpool was launched on Saturday night after a report of a man being swept away by large waves on the seafront.

In what has been described as a “weather bomb”, hurricane-force gales, 50ft-waves and snow will combine with the 1,500-mile Storm Brendan, named by the Irish forecaster, Met Éireann. After a dry start on Monday, the gales are forecast to push across Britain as the day progresses.

The Met Office put yellow weather warnings of strong winds in place for parts of the UK from midday on Monday to midnight. Frank Saunders, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “It’s going to be windy across the western half of the UK, with gusts reaching 60 to 70mph along Irish Sea coastlines, the west of Scotland and perhaps some English Channel coasts – maybe even 80mph in a few exposed places.”

He said the severe conditions could cause travel disruption. Those in affected areas were advised to take extra care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges or high open roads.

Looking further ahead to the rest of next week, Saunders said: “It looks like it’s going to stay very unsettled with the potential for further disruptive weather in places.”

By Tuesday, the strongest gusts are forecast along the the southern coast of England, along the channel, the south-west and south west of Wales.

Strong winds and heavy rain battered parts of Scotland on Saturday, causing road closures and rail disruption as gritters attempted to deal with icy conditions. A number of ferry crossings between Northern Ireland and Scotland were also cancelled on Sunday by P&O, citing the storm.

The Environment Agency said local river and surface water flooding was possible in the south-east of England on Tuesday and Wednesday after several spells of heavy rainfall.

Flood warnings were issued on Sunday for two areas – Keswick campsite in Cumbria and a stretch along the River Nene east of Peterborough – as well as 61 alerts for possible flooding elsewhere.