THE ISLE of Wight Met Service has issued an updated weather warning for tomorrow (Friday) predicting rain, severe southerly gales and a storm surge.

Starting tomorrow evening, an area of rain with increasingly strong winds will push in from the west and southwest.

Between 7pm and midnight the Isle of Wight will see the strongest winds with an average speed close to 40mph and gusts of 60 or possibly 70mph in a few places. The highest gusts will be in coastal areas of the west, south and east with gusts closer to 50 to 55mph just a short distance inland.

As well as strong winds, it is expected there will be fairly large rainfall with up to 30mm falling in some places.

The main problems from the system will be large waves and a storm surge which may see coastal defence breaching in some areas including Gurnard, Ryde, Seaview, Yaverland and Ventnor, as well as large over-topping waves in other areas.

A storm surge of between 0.5 and 0.7 metres as well as a large spring tide may cause problems between 11pm and 1am.

The winds will turn southwesterly after midnight and will slowly ease.