South-east London and north Kent has enjoyed an unseasonably warm weekend - as other parts of the UK prepare for the remnants of a US blizzard, which has killed 18 people.

The balmy spell has seen temperatures climb to 15C across the south-east – almost 10C above the usual January average and a far cry from last week’s sub-zero conditions.

But the Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for Wales, north-west England and west Scotland as the remnants of Storm Jonas, which has battered the US East Coast heads for the UK.

Forecasters have predicted the weather system will hit these parts of Britain on Tuesday morning, bringing torrential rain and heavy winds.

Downpours and flooding could bring more misery to northern communities devastated by Storm Desmond before Christmas.

A Met Office spokesman said: “There will be several low pressure systems which will work their way across the UK "We are in for some heavy rain and strong winds.

"The amounts of rainfall could be pretty high, there is potential for 50 to 100mm, which is four inches.

"Across northwest England and Scotland there could be upwards of 150mm, almost rivalling what we saw in December.

"These are quite wet areas and they are susceptible to flooding."

The Met Office said the warning could be extended to south-west and south-east England.

Storm Jonas brought hurricane-force winds and up to 2ft (60cm) of snowfall to the East Coast of America, bringing many states to a standstill.

Inbound and outbound flights from major airports across America were cancelled, at least 45 of which were to or from the UK.

A state of emergency was declared across a vast swathe of the eastern seaboard, with schools and government offices closed, sports and entertainment events called off and thousands of homes without power.