Storm Ciaran is set to hit parts of Essex later this week as two weather warnings have been issued.

A yellow rain warning issued by the Met Office will be in place from 6pm on Wednesday until 11.59pm on Thursday, with heavy rain associated with Storm Ciaran potentially causing some flooding and delays to train and bus services.

 This warning is only in place in parts of south Essex, such as Southend, Canvey, Tilbury and Benfleet, while missing parts of Basildon.

A yellow wind warning in place from midnight on Thursday until 6pm later that day has been issued across the whole of south Essex, when Storm Ciaran is expected to hit with "very strong and potentially damaging winds".

Essex weather experts have warned of a "disturbed week of weather" as they revealed another storm is being "watched closely" for the weekend.

An Essex Weather spokesman tweeted: "A very disturbed week of weather is on the way with two potential storms bringing wet and windy conditions to Essex.

"Storm Ciaran expected on Thursday (Met Office warning issued) and another storm is being watched closely for the weekend."

What is Storm Ciaran and what to expect when it arrives?

Storm Ciaran was named on Sunday by the Met Office and is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern parts of England and Wales on Thursday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, said “Winds associated with Storm Ciarán are likely to gust to 80mph along the south coast of England, with a small risk of somewhere exposed seeing 90mph, and winds could even gust up to 50 or 60 mph further inland.

“This deep low-pressure system will also bring heavy rain to much of the UK, but the heaviest rain is expected in southern and western areas with 20 to 25mm quite widely across the region but up to 40 to 60mm potentially over higher ground.  Heavy and persistent rain will fall onto already saturated ground bringing a risk of further impacts such as flooding in areas that are already struggling to clean up from the heavy rainfall we have seen over the last week or so.”