A YELLOW weather warning has been issued for large parts of Wales with Storm Helene will bring a spell of strong winds over the next two days.

According to the Met Office, the storm is expected to move northeastwards across the British Isles today before clearing into the northern North Sea by early Tuesday morning.

A spell of strong winds is expected, initially mainly in the far southwest of England and across western Wales. The strongest winds then transfer northwards to be over northern England and, perhaps, the far south of Scotland, during the early hours of Tuesday.

Winds are likely to gust into the 40s or low 50s mph quite widely across the warning area. Meanwhile, in some Irish Sea coastal areas, most likely in Wales and northwest England, gusts to 55-65 mph are likely with possible isolated gusts in excess of 70 mph in the most exposed places. High gusts in the 50s or low 60s mph area also possible over high ground in northern England during the early hours of Tuesday.

Despite the warning, forecasters have downgraded previous predictions that Storm Helene could pose a risk to life when it hits this week - but warned coastal communities to stay vigilant.

The Met Office warned on Friday the storm could bring hazardous conditions when it sweeps across the north of England and Wales and through the Republic of Ireland.

A spokesman for the Met Office said Helene could fell a few trees, which could bring disruption to transport links, but did not think it would reach the 70mph winds originally predicted.

Those in coastal areas are warned to be wary of large waves hitting the seafront.

But Helene is still due to bring unseasonably warm weather in London and the south east due as the low pressure draws up warm air from the south.

Some parts could see highs of 26C (78.8F), which is 7C to 8C above average for the time of year, the Met Office said.

The spokesman said: "Helene is still over the Atlantic but it's weakening and we're a lot more confident of what's going to happen.

"The centre of the storm will go up through the middle of Ireland and most of the strong winds will be in the Irish sea and to the west of Scotland."

The yellow warning for wind remains in place but the storm is not thought to pose a risk to life.

"There is not a danger to life, but we are just saying be prepared for it be very windy for a while," the spokesman said.

Devon and Cornwall, parts of Wales and County Down in Northern Ireland as well as Northumbria, Cumbria and parts of Yorkshire in north of England are likely to see strong winds.