Greater Manchester weather: Wet and windy Monday in store as Met office issue severe weather warning for gales

It's looking like a wet and windy start to the working week in Greater Manchester. The Met Office has issued a severe weather for gales for the north west from 9am to 4pm on Monday.

And if you're planning on using the M62, M6 or Woodhead Pass drivers have been warned to take extra care as wind speeds could reach up to 70mph on higher ground and exposed routes. The Met Office says Storm Debi was expected to develop over Ireland overnight on Sunday before moving to the north west of England.

Occasional bursts of heavy rains will also make driving conditions even more difficult. Stephen Basterfield, national network manager at National Highways, said: "Gales and high winds can happen all year round, but most often occur during storms, and are even more prevalent during the autumn and winter seasons and early spring.

“It is therefore always important to plan ahead for your journey, and if weather conditions become challenging, adjust your driving behaviour and take extra care.

"We have a section of our website dedicated to travelling amid storms, high winds and gales, and considerations for different types of vehicle, as part of our guide to travelling in severe weather. It's also a good idea for people to check their vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, before heading out to reduce the risk of breakdowns."

Temperatures will peak at around 11C in Manchester on Monday, fairly mild for this time of year. And the winds are expected to start dying down by mid-afternoon, but will remain strong into the evening.

Jason Kelly, chief meteorologist with the Met Office, said: “Storm Debi will develop quickly and bring potentially very strong and damaging winds to parts of the Republic of Ireland, which is why Met Éireann