Most of the UK has now been issued with a "rare" amber weather warning by the Met Office ahead of Storm Isha arriving.

The forecasters have upgraded two yellow weather warnings as a spell of “very strong, perhaps damaging”, winds associated with Storm Isha is likely to bring disruption to transport and infrastructure.

The updated weather warnings come as the original warning area has been extended further southwards and both the start and finish times have been made earlier.

The amber weather warning is now in place from 8pm this evening (January 21) until 6am tomorrow morning (January 22).

One stretches across central, eastern and western England and all of Wales - just about missing London and some parts of the South East.

The other covers the whole of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.

You can see the full Met Office map for yellow and amber weather warnings across the UK due to strong winds and heavy rain from Storm Isha here.

What to expect from amber weather warning for strong winds

If your area is under the 12-hour amber weather warning, according to the Met Office, you can expect:

  • Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible
  • Some roads and bridges may close
  • Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
  • Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen
  • Injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties

Echo: Make sure you're prepared for the strong winds and heavy rain caused by Storm IshaMake sure you're prepared for the strong winds and heavy rain caused by Storm Isha (Image: Brian Lawless/PA)

Met Office forecaster Ellie Glaisyer told Sky News: "The main thing about this storm is it is very widespread across the whole of the UK.

"Quite often we see storms affecting the northwest or the southern half of the UK, whereas this one, later on Sunday and into Monday, the whole of the UK is covered by a warning, which is relatively rare.

"In that nature it's a very widespread storm and it's going to be affecting everybody. Heavy rain will affect everybody, those strong winds will affect everybody.

"That's the main difference to previous storms we have seen."

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Yellow warnings for rain are also in place across the UK for the next few days, as well as eight flood warnings and 58 flood alerts in England issued by the Environment Agency (at the time of publication).

The Met Office has said the heaviest rain is expected today, with 30mm to 50mm in many places and 80mm to 100mm in hillier areas.

You can keep up to date with your local forecast on the Met Office website and check if your area is at risk of flooding on GOV.UK.