Weather models have changed in the past 24 hours putting the ferocious tempest on a direct collision course with the UK. However latest forecastst suggest Maria may follow Lee and smash into the UK subsequently rather than merging fully in the Atlantic.



A third low-pressure system spotted today lurking off the coast of Canada threatens to join the party creating a trio of misery.



Swathes of the country are on alert for severe gales, travel chaos and power outages into the start of next week.



It could be the most significant storm to hit the UK since Doris ripped through the country in February.



Latest models show Hurricane Maria, which has strengthened and weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm and back over the past 48 hours, making a northeastward u-turn today before heading towards the North Atlantic. Latest NOAA path projections released this morning show Lee is holding maxiumum sustained winds remain near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. It is projected to gradually weaken as it makes its way across the North Atlantic as sea temperatures cool over the next 48 hours.

WX-charts Storm latest path: Hurricane Maria and Lee are strenthening in the Atlantic

Currently Lee's hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the centre of the storm, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. Some forecast projections this morning have said that Maria and Lee may not merge but that will follow each other smashing into the UK in quick succession. Lee continues to increase speed as it moves across the Atlantic. Current locations of both hurricanes show them nearing each other

WX Charts UK storm latest: Maximum wind speeds as the storm hits UK

Maria will collide with Lee – currently a category-3 hurricane – between now and Friday creating a huge and rapidly deepening storm system.



Forecasters say a third low-pressure system discovered near Newfoundland could hitch a ride with Maria and Lee adding further vigour to the mix.



While there is still uncertainty around timings and severity, forecasters say torrential rain and gales are likely to set in on Sunday night.



The storm will then sweep northwards away from the UK leaving a clear and settled picture for the rest of the week.



Northwest Scotland and the west coast of England are braced for the biggest hit according to latest weather models.







Ventusky Current positions of Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Maria

MagicSeaweed Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Lee will smash Britain with a third area of low pressure

Ventusky Ex-Hurricane Lee and Ex-Hurricane Maria will hit Britain Sunday night into Monday

Jim Dale, forecaster for British Weather Services, said gusts of between 60 and 70mph are likely to batter the worst-hit regions.



He said: “We are certainly looking at a wet and windy weekend, it all still depends on how Maria and Lee converge and the path they take.



“At the moment it is a very messy picture, but the most likely situation is that we see northwest Scotland and western Britain on the receiving end of some very wet and windy weather.



“We are almost certainly looking at severe gales with perhaps storm-force gusts from Sunday into Monday.



“Elsewhere most places will be gusty and are in for some typical, unsettled autumnal conditions.”







UK weather updates A third weather system has developed off the coast of Newfoundland

GFS GFS ensemble models show the two hurricanes smashing together then hitting Britain

The Met Office said weather models are still struggling to agree on how any of these systems will affect the UK’s weather.



Spokesman Grahame Madge however warned to expect some very wet and windy conditions from Sunday.



He said: “It is still uncertain whether the union of Lee and Maria will take place and what happens after that.



“There is now another more typical low pressure system off the coast of Newfoundland which will bring a situation where we could have three systems interacting.



“What we are largely sure about is that we are going to see our weather systems modified by whatever ends up coming across the Atlantic, and this will bring a spell of very wet and windy weather.





UK superstorm Ex-Maria: Latest Models Fri, September 29, 2017 Latest models show Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Lee to merge and strike into the UK. Play slideshow National Hurricane Centre 1 of 14 Friday 8AM: Tropical storm Maria

“We expect most of the effects to be felt on Sunday and into Monday after which an area of high pressure will bring more settled conditions to the UK.”



Experts have over the past few days been scratching their heads over different weather models which all show vastly different paths and intensities of the Atlantic hurricanes.



While many show Maria linking up with Lee and arriving to the northwest of the UK on Sunday, others show both storms vanishing before the weekend.



Weather Company Forecaster Dave Reynolds said: “Our models are showing a change from yesterday with Maria now dissipating completely over the Atlantic.



“The main effect would be that we get an incursion of warm and humid air across southern Britain which will push temperatures up at the weekend.



“It is however still possible that things will change as it is still very early on.”







Ventusky Hurricane Maria currently has a huge wind field