SUFFOLK is bracing itself for severe storms which forecasters today warned could hit the county within 24 hours.

SUFFOLK is bracing itself for severe storms which forecasters today warned could hit the county within 24 hours.

Gusts approaching 70mph, only 5mph short of hurricane strength, are expected to batter the coast and could last for several days.

Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers said tomorrow would be particularly stormy.

He said: “We will have south westerly winds which will get up to 30mph to 40mph, occasionally gusting up to 50mph or 60mph inland or 70mph on the coast.

“A very intense depression will move across the north of the UK in an easterly direction. It is always the case that the worst winds are on its southern flank.

“The winds may bring down one or two trees, but the greatest risk is power lines.”

The increasing winds have already caused havoc for sailors aboard one yacht. At 6am today, a lifeboat from Harwich was called to help the crew of a boat after it ran aground on the shore. The boat had been moored up before the incident.

Mr Blowers said along with the gusts, colder weather was also on the cards.

He said: “After four months of very mild weather there is a definite risk of very much colder weather starting on Sunday.

“Those cooler temperatures should last for the whole of next week.”

Temperatures are expected to drop from an unseasonable warm 50F/10C to 41F/5C.

Mr Blowers said: “That's about right for this time of year, although temperatures could drop slightly below average.

“It also means there will be an increasing risk of some snow during the week.”

However, MeteoGroup senior forecaster Stephen Davenport said the chances of snow were slight.

He said: “There will be some snow and sleet in the north by the middle of next week but it is unlikely London and the south east of England will get much - certainly not enough to cause any major disruption.”