A raging bull of windy weather is set to batter Britain in the next 48 hours with new weather maps showing 70mph winds and heavy rain lashing parts of the nation. Northern Ireland, western Wales and England and western Scotland all appear to be in the firing line of the stormy conditions which are predicted to arrive overnight on Tuesday June 3.

Maps from WXCharts show show almost the entire country covered in a dark bruising purple and red denoting winds of up to and excess of 70mph, especially on exposed coastal areas. Major cities like Liverpool, Glasgow, Swansea and Belfast could all see winds which will bring heavy rains in their wake. The Isle of Mann also looks likely to be directly in the path of some of the strongest gusts.

The Atlantic weather system looks set to remain in place for almost all of Tuesday before the storm heads further north towards Iceland and Scandinavia.

A Met Office forecast for Monday into Tuesday said: "Heavy rain spreads across Northern Ireland and into western Scotland through the evening. Breezier here too."

The national weather agency added the strong winds and rain would "clears eastwards early on Tuesday morning, leaving a legacy of blustery showers across the country".

Charts from weather forecasters Ventusky also show a deep patch of red, marking high winds, covering much of the Irish Sea from midnight on Tuesday potentially affected ferry services.

The shipping forecast from the Isle of Man Government warned June 3 will see "strong winds", with "moderate or rough" sea conditions overnight from Monday.

However, for those looking ahead to the summer, there was some good news from the Met Office today (Sunday) with the organisation saying it is twice as likely that summer will be hot across the UK this year.

The predictions come on the heels of the country's sunniest spring on record, with some 100% hours of sunshine clocked up across the country between March 1 and May 27, in what has also been the driest spring for more than a century.

Temperatures soared to 8C above the average for the time of year on Saturday - the last day of meteorological spring - ahead of a potentially hot summer season.

The Met Office's three-month outlook predicts that the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal, bringing an increased risk of heatwaves and heat-related impacts.

The outlook shows it is 2.3 times more likely than normal that the UK will be hot over meteorological summer, which begins on June 1 and ends August 31.

Today:

Rather cloudy in the north with showers spreading eastwards, these sometimes heavy bringing a risk of thunderstorms. Much drier and brighter further south, Breezy for all, especially in the showers. Cooler than Saturday but feeling warm in the sunshine.

Tonight:

Heavy showers in the north gradually fade away with clear spells developing overnight. A few light showers lingering near western coasts. Light winds away from the far northwest by dawn.

Monday:

Initially dry and sunny with light winds, but turning increasingly cloudy from the west. Heavy rain spreads across Northern Ireland and into western Scotland through the evening. Breezier here too.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:

Heavy rain clears eastwards early on Tuesday morning, leaving a legacy of blustery showers across the country. Further outbreaks of rain on Wednesday and Thursday, but some brighter spells too.