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The strongest hurricane for five years is set to hit Britain this week, accompanied by two more storms. The bad weather comes after an unseasonably hot autumn, with the Indian summer's highs of 21C - hotter than Australia.

The Met Office says that the 800-mile wide Hurricane Joaquin - the strongest Atlantic hurricane since 2010 - is "increasingly" likely to impact Britain around Friday, with the North and West facing "severe gales" and heavy rain, and the South also at risk.

The forecast is a bleak one, with the Met Office predicting the first storms arriving tonight, bringing gales of 50mph in the south-west and heavy rain on Monday across the UK. The outlook for Tuesday is similarly gloomy, with more rain all round, and gale-force winds in the south.

Government forecasters have warned of potential for road travel disruption, falling tree branches and ferries being buffeted. Hurricane Joaquin is forecast to spin across the Atlantic and be within 400 miles of Ireland's coast - on course for Britain - by Thursday night, the US Government's National Hurricane Center said.

President Obama has today declared a state of emergency in South Carolina over heavy flooding, triggered by heavy rainfall in the wake of Hurricane Joaquin.

The storm, which left 33 sailors missing at sea off the US coast, has 135mph sustained winds and forecast 165mph gusts. The NHC said Joaquin would still pack sustained winds up to a hurricane-force 73mph on Thursday night. Gusts will be higher.

The Met Office says: "There is an increasing risk later in the week of gales or possibly severe gales across the West and North. "Joaquin is the strongest Atlantic hurricane in terms of central pressure since Hurricane Igor in 2010."

(Image: Getty)

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna says: "The Joaquin system looks like tracking towards the North-West of the UK, although there is uncertainty. "Winds speeds in the North-West are shown as picking up on Thursday, with the strongest winds in the North and West but a windy spell certainly possible further south. "Gales could be enough to bring branches down and potentially impact roads near exposed coasts and shipping."

Met Office forecaster Laura Young says: "Low pressure arrives on Sunday evening in the South-West with potential gale-force winds, and another system arrives on Tuesday. It will feel autumnal, with wet and windy weather."

British holidaymakers have also been caught up in flash flooding across the French Riviera, which have killed at least 13 people so far.