The effects of 'weather bomb' - or 'explosive cyclogenesis’ - around London and the south east is likely to be focused on the coastline, the Met Office has said today.

But inland gusts will "be hit and miss" and cannot be ruled out, the forecaster said.

It said: "London, for example, is unlikely to see even gale force gusts and mean wind speeds will be much lower."

The Met Office said today: "The strongest winds seem likely to be focused through the English Channel, affecting coastal areas of the south and southeast in particular.

"Inland, strong gusts will be a little more hit and miss but cannot be ruled out, particularly associated with the heavy rain along the squally cold front."

From Tuesday: No snow predicted yet, but watch out for 'weather bomb' gales on Friday across Greater London, say Met Office

From yesterday: Will the 'weather bomb' really send us a pre-Christmas battering?

Gales with a short spell of heavy rain are expected to affect southern England and Wales overnight tonight and early Friday. The gales are expected to be severe along the coasts.

The Met said: "The public should be aware of the risk of damage to trees, disruption to travel and possibly to power supplies, as well as a lot of surface water and spray on roads."

In a blog published yesterday the Met said that the UK was not being 'hit' by a weather bomb but feeling the effects of a low pressure event which happened on Monday - one of up to 65 events a year across the northern and southern hemispheres.