Drivers are being warned to check conditions before setting out

The South West and the North West are among the areas worst hit by gales, which are expected to ease overnight.

And parts of the Midlands and the North East are most likely to be flooded, the Environment Agency said.

Heavy snow is expected to continue in Scotland and possibly northern England overnight, but should thaw on Sunday.

In south Wales, a 12-year-old boy has died after he and three friends were swept down the swollen River Ebbw near Newport.

Meanwhile, strong winds caused the old Severn bridge on the M48 to be closed, while the QE2 bridge on the M25 at Dartford was also shut.

'Very unsettled'

Cardiff's Queen Street station was closed after part of the roof blew off and onto the tracks.

The BBC weather centre said the worst winds would hit before midnight on Saturday, reaching between 80mph and 90mph in exposed places.

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BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee told News Online: "The sort of strength we're talking about is definitely structurally damaging.

"There will be damage with high-sided lorries and vehicles being particularly vulnerable."

The centre said the snow would mainly affect southern parts of Scotland although there could be falls in the north of England and Northern Ireland overnight.

It also said there were a number of flood warnings in place and that the weather would stay "very, very unsettled in the next few days".

Warning to motorists

Drivers are being warned to be extra cautious and check conditions before starting out on their journeys during the bad weather.

AA Roadwatch spokesman Michael Johnson said the organisation was expecting a busy weekend.

He said: "I think the conditions are going to quite severely affect the road network.

We really would advise drivers to check road conditions Michael Johnson AA Roadwatch

"Motorists are going to have to show a great deal of care.

"They could be facing particularly high winds. A 60mph gust creates four times the force of a 30mph wind.

"There are dangerous driving conditions likely in almost every part of the country and we really would advise drivers to check road conditions."

The BBC weather centre is predicting further travel misery all over the country as a result of Sunday's big thaw.

Flood risk

Susanne Baker, of the Environment Agency, urged residents to monitor the agency's flood warnings either online or via floodline on 0845 988 1188.

On Saturday evening there were 58 flood warnings, mostly in the Midlands, the North East, Anglian areas and Wales.

She said: "We really would urge people, especially those in the west of the country, to keep an eye on the flood warnings."