Storm Brendan has forced airlines to divert flights as it brings high winds to the UK after battering parts of Ireland, with more strong gusts forecast on Tuesday.

Seven flights to Gatwick airport were directed around the UK after gales in excess of 40mph struck the area on Monday evening.

Gatwick said two Wizz Air flights, four easyJet services and one Norwegian Air flight were diverted, while an easyJet plane from Edinburgh to Gatwick was forced to land in Birmingham.

Wizz diverting to Stansted. https://t.co/1o7l7Nybgq



easyJet also diverting away from Gatwick. https://t.co/UTOrL8SMEX



Strong winds and rain at Gatwick according to latest METAR. pic.twitter.com/Ue0wH0HxzO — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 13, 2020

The Met Office said conditions around the airport were blustery overnight and warned that stronger gusts could batter the area on Tuesday afternoon.

Flight-tracking site flightradar24 said there were "strong winds and rain" at Gatwick and showed the Wizz Air flight circling before heading north.


An easyJet spokesman said: "We can confirm that as a result of adverse weather conditions affecting the UK this evening, like all airlines, we are experiencing some disruption to our flying programme.

"We would like to reassure passengers that we will do everything possible to minimise the impact of the disruption."

Storm Brendan moved into the UK around rush hour on Monday evening after lashing areas of Ireland with winds gusting over 80mph.

Swimmer struggles to emerge from rough sea

In Ireland's Co Cork and Galway, large waves and driving rain hit.

About 48,000 homes and businesses were without power on Monday afternoon and there were also outages in parts of Northern Ireland.

Image: Warnings remain in place for the UK on Tuesday. Pic: Met Office

Yellow wind warnings were in force until midnight for Northern Ireland, much of the western half of the UK and northeast Scotland.

The wild weather will also continue on Tuesday, when the strong winds are expected to affect Wales and nearly all of England.

Forecasters have told people to prepare for travel delays, while coastal communities could be hit by large waves.

Stena Line ferry braves rough conditions in Irish Sea

The strongest winds recorded on Monday were 87mph (140kmh) on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, and a 76mph (122kmh) gust in Capel Curig, northwest Wales.

Ireland's nation forecaster Met Eireann said winds of over 83mph (133kmh) had been recorded at Roches Point on the south coast.

A trampoline was seen on the M7 motorway to Limerick - thought to have been blown on to the road.

Trampoline blown on to motorway in storm

On Tuesday, the yellow wind warning for the UK expands from western areas to cover Wales and nearly all of England from midday until midnight.

The Met Office says they could reach 40mph to 50mph inland.

A warning for heavy rain in southeast England is also in place from 1pm on Tuesday until 9am on Wednesday.

In Northern Scotland, a warning for snow and ice is in place from 1am until 1pm.