STRONG winds will batter Sussex this afternoon as Storm Gareth blows in from the west, the Met Office has said.

Weather experts have issued a yellow weather warning from noon today (Tuesday) until tomorrow afternoon.

Forecasters previously thought the storm would strike at about 9pm tonight, but have since brought forward their prediction to midday.

The Met Office says: “Strong west to northwesterly winds are expected from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday with possible transport disruption.”

The north and west regions will be the worst affected, but the storm will move southward and eastward through the afternoon and into tomorrow, according to the experts.

Forecasters predict gusts of up to 65mph in some coastal areas, and 55mph inland.

The alert is in place from 12pm Tuesday until 3pm Wednesday.

Winds will gradually ease during the afternoon.

The Met Office says: “Probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer

“Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges likely.

“Some short-term loss of power and other services is possible It’s likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities are affected by spray and/or large waves.”

Two cars were crushed in Surrenden Road, Brighton, at the weekend when strong winds brought down trees across the county.

And a group of teenage boys had a lucky escape after a wave swept them into the sea at Shoreham.

The coastguard warned people to stay away from the water in rough weather and not to take risks.

Here's the latest Met Office forecast for London and the South East in full:

Headline:

Wet and windy for much of the day, drier later.

Today:

Cloudy and windy, with patchy light rain at first giving way to longer and heavier outbreaks of rain from late morning onwards, but with winds easing as heavier rain arrives.

Turning drier from the west during the late afternoon.

Maximum temperature 10 °C.

Tonight:

A dry evening, and clear at first, but turning cloudier and much windier during the evening, followed by a cold and very windy night with a few showers spreading south.

Minimum temperature 3 °C.

Wednesday:

Windy with showers for most of the day, though winds gradually easing during the afternoon, and showers dying out to become dry by evening, with some late sunny spells possible.

Maximum temperature 11 °C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Thursday windy with early rain giving way to heavy showers.

Friday wet and very windy throughout the day, perhaps drier in the south.

Saturday cloudy and breezy with occasional rain.