UPDATE: 11.58am

UPDATE: 10.57am

Newport - the calm before the storm? South Wales Argus Camera Club member Robert Little took this shot of the Usk footbridge in Newport this morning. The sky over the city is looking quite eerie!

Free Press Series:

UPDATE: 10.28am

The Met Office have extended the area covered by weather warnings to Gwent this morning.

Free Press Series:

The warning said the 'Ex-Ophelia' would bring "very windy weather" is likely on today and road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journeys times and cancellations possible. Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage. 

Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs could happen, perhaps leading to injuries and danger to life from flying debris. Coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities may be affected by spray and/or large waves.

The start time for the warning has been brought forward and some impacts are likely "from late morning". The yellow area has also been extended eastwards into more of the west Midlands and southwest England.

UPDATE: 8.10am

GWENT is set to be battered by high winds as the tail of the former Hurricane Ophelia hits the UK.

Although the main force of the former is predicted to hit Ireland and West Wales with winds of up to 80mph, Gwent is set to receive a battering too.

Winds as high as 52mph are forecast in Abergavenny while Chepstow could see winds of up to reach up to 49mph and Newport 45mph.

sweeps in, but Gwent is expected to miss the worst of the storm.

The Met Office has issued severe weather alerts across the UK, warning of potential power cuts, flying debris and disruption to transport and mobile phone signal.

The tropical storm has been making its way across the Atlantic and Ophelia's remnants are set to reach home shores tomorrow, Monday, resulting in "exceptional" weather.

The hurricane will be a storm when it is expected to hit the UK, but will still bring "hurricane-force" winds.

The Met Office has said it will be a breezy start across Wales tomorrow, with winds increasing through the day.

Most parts of Wales will be hit by gales, but the most severe will be in the west of the country.

Northern Ireland is covered with an amber warning - meaning there is a "potential risk to life and property", issued when forecasters believe people need to be prepared to change their plans and "protect you, your family and community from the impacts of the severe weather based on the forecast".

Very windy weather is expected across the entire region, while a yellow warning is in place for much of Wales, Scotland, north east England, north west England, south west England and the West Midlands.

Gusts of 55-65mph are likely across Northern Ireland with 70-80mph gusts in the far south-east.

A smaller area of very gusty winds is then likely to run across Northern Ireland from the west with 65-75mph gusts possible for a short period of time in any one location.

Longer journey times and cancellations are likely, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected as well as some bridge closures.

Heavy rain is also possible in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland.

Met Eireann have issued a "status red" weather alert for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry, warning of severe winds and stormy conditions.

The UK Military of Defence (MOD) has three battalions - 1,200 personnel in total - permanently on standby to assist with contingencies.

But an MOD spokesman said it has not yet received requests from any local authority for assistance.

Meanwhile, bookmaker Coral cut the odds on this month being the wettest October on record in the UK into evens (from 3-1) following a flurry of bets on Sunday morning.

The firm is offering 6-4 that the wind speed reaches as high as 100mph in mainland UK next week and 2-1 for there to be snowfall in October.