New Delhi, Jan. 9 -- Britain braced Thursday for potentially life-threatening winds, rains and snowfall as a severe storm headed in from the southwest of England during what already has been one of the country's worst cold snaps in years.

The Met Office, Britain's national meteorological service, issued a rare red weather warning - its highest - for the southwest of England for Thursday evening. It warned of "violent gusts" up to 100 mph (160 kph) for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which are exposed and thinly populated parts of the U.K. The agency warned of damage to buildings and homes, flying debris, widespread travel cancellations and power cuts.

Red weather warnings are issued when the forecaster considers it to be "very likely ...