THE south was bracing itself for heavy rain and the possibility of storm force winds across the area today.

Forecasters predicted gusts possibly up to 100mph - posing the risk of uprooting trees, structural damage and a significant danger to life.

Thousands of well-wishers were expected along the Solent coastline to wish the QM2 bon voyage on her maiden voyage from her home port of Southampton.

But the weather may wash out the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Meanwhile a coastguard spokesman was warning leisure sailors to use common sense and stay off the water.

She said warnings of severe weather had featured in the news for the last three days and that predictions of storm force conditions should encourage people to stay at home.

Met Office chief forecaster Eddie Carroll said: "After the recent spell of bad weather, we are advising the public to expect stormy conditions which could cause structural damage and localised flooding."

Yesterday the Met Office issued an advanced weather warning of severe gales and heavy rain, saying it was expecting one or two "intense" depressions to cross the Atlantic in the next few days.

The main risk period for the first storm was said to be today, with a second possible storm posing lower but significant risk for Tuesday and early Wednesday.

Today's storm was expected to bring severe gales across the south with 25-44mm of rain.

The Met Office was saying that this would bring down trees, cause structural damage, disrupt transport and lead to some localised flooding.

They added that there was a lower risk - ranging from 20 per cent in south-west England to 40 per cent in south-east England - that extremely damaging inland gusts in the order of 90mph would develop as the system passed through.

A spokesman said: "This is exceptional and would cause widespread disruption to transport and significant danger to life."