We're in for a windy weekend!

As a result of these high winds, the Highways Agency has issued an Amber Alert for high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes, whose drivers and riders are advised to take extra care when travelling due to the increased risk of vehicles being blown over.

The Highways Agency, which is responsible for motorways and other major roads in England, is working closely with the Met Office to monitor weather conditions and to maintain safe roads and reliable journeys.

Met Office information suggests that routes north of Scotch Corner are most at risk from gale force cross-winds from around 9am tomorrow and strengthening throughout the day.

The Met Office is warning that there is a strong chance of gusts of between 60mph and 70mph with speeds of up to 80mph possible in exposed areas.

The A66 and A69 trans-Pennine routes between the North West and North East are also being identified as high blow-over risks, and in the North West the locations include:

• M53 J1-J2 Wallasey to Birkenhead
• M56 J12 Runcorn and Sutton Weaver
• M58 J1 Kirkby
• M6 J20-J21 Thelwall Viaduct
• M6 J26-J27 M58 to Standish
• M6 J36-J44 Throughout Cumbria
• M60 J10-J12 Barton Bridge through to M62
• M60 J16-J17 Pendlebury and Kersley to Prestwich and Whitefield
• M62 J18 - J27 Between Manchester and Leeds
• M61 J4-J5 J5 Westhoughton
• M61 J9/M65 J1 Interchange
• A56 Between M65 and A680 at Edenfield
• M65 J3-J4 Withnell and Blackburn Interchange

Highways Agency Traffic Officers at the North West and North East regional control centres and outstations across the two regions are monitoring weather and traffic conditions and are ready to respond to any incidents as well as using electronic message signs to warn and advise drivers of conditions.

Road users are advised to plan for their journeys before setting out, checking the forecast, road conditions and leaving extra time if travel conditions are poor or to delay their journeys if the weather becomes severe.

Up-to-date information on road conditions on England's motorways and trunk roads is also available on the Highways Agency website at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or by calling the Highways Agency Information Line at 0300 123 5000. Regional Twitter feeds are also available with a full list of links at www.highways.gov.uk/twitter.

For information on weather conditions drivers can visit the Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk or listen to local radio.