60mph winds from Storm Ophelia could cause power cuts and damage buildings

Hurricane Ophelia is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and could bring wet weather and gusts of up to 70mph when it hits Wales' shores on Monday.

The tropical storm was named a hurricane overnight and the US National Hurricane Centre has warned it could strengthen over the coming days

The remnants of Ophelia look set to reach North Wales on Monday, with unsettled weather expected to cause disruption, the Met Office said.

A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued by the Met Office which covers Anglesey, Gwynedd and parts of Conwy.

Yellow warning for wind issued by the Met Office in connection with Storm Ophelia (Image: Met Office)

A spokesman for the forecaster said: "Very strong winds are forecast to affect western parts of the UK during Monday.

"Southerly winds are most likely to gust between 50 and 60 mph across much of the warning area with perhaps gusts of 70 to 80 mph in more exposed parts.

"These strong winds are forecast in association with the northward track of Ophelia across or near to the west of the British Isles.

Storm Doris in February caused damage to Colwyn Bay pier (Image: Ian Cooper)

"Heavy rain is also possible in association with this system with northwestern UK most prone at this stage."

The warning is active from 8am on Monday until 11.55pm the same day.

A roof damaged by Storm Doris in Rhosgadfan (Image: Arwyn Roberts)

The west of the country will see the worst of the weather, with winds of between 60mph and 70mph forecast.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkhill said: "Ophelia became a hurricane overnight and the forecast track takes it eastwards towards Iberia for the weekend.

"After that, indications are that by that point it will then have weakened and be no longer a hurricane or tropical storm, it will be extratropical.

"But then it will continue its way towards the British Isles, probably reaching us very early next week."

It will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Great Storm of 1987, which hit southern England overnight on October 15.

The storm caused damage estimated at £1 billion and claimed 18 lives.

Mr Burkhill said cold sea temperatures mean Ophelia will not be strong enough to be categorised as a hurricane when it hits Britain.

But he added: "It's definitely something that we are keeping an eye on, for the possibility of some disruptive weather early next week."

The unsettled weather looks likely to continue into Tuesday due to a separate band of low pressure, and will remain changeable throughout the rest of the week.