Met Office issues two new weather warnings as rain and wind set to batter UK

The Met Office issued on Wednesday two fresh yellow warnings for rain, lasting for several hours across October 16.

cover Derbyshire in the East Midlands as well as several areas in the North West and South West of England. Wales and the West Midlands by the warning.

One of the warnings stretches from Plymouth to Manchester, also moving into most of Wales. The other one is for areas further up north, spanning from just above Manchester to Northumberland.

The first warning for more southernly parts of the country kicked in at 6pm on Tuesday and will last until 9pm today. The Met Office said to expect "spells of heavy rain" which may cause travel disruptions and flooding.

It predicts around 10-20mm of rain, but some areas could see "considerably more" over a period of six hours, with few being inundated with between 50-80mm.

It also warns of the potential for power cuts and floods that temporarily cut off some communities as well as causing damage to buildings.

The Met Office advises checking if your home is at risk of flooding, and making preparations if necessary. In terms of travel advice, planning routes ahead of time is the best way to mitigate any of the bad weather's impacts.

The second warning covering areas further north is in place from 12pm until 11:59pm tonight, and includes the same threats if flooding and travel disruptions.

Some areas of quite intense rainfall" - amounting to 5-80mm within roughly six hours, though the average will be closer to 20mm.

Both warnings also include the risk of isolated thunderstorms.

The UK weather office also issued a wind warning, which will remain in place on October 18 between 7am and 3pm.

This will mainly affect islands off the west coast of Scotland, where "strong winds and high spring tides " to road, air, and ferry travel.

The Met Office said: " Wind gusts of 45-55 mph are possible fairly widely for a time, and perhaps in excess of 60 mph in more exposed locations. Given the wind direction and high spring tides, some disruption is possible."

Coastal communities are the most at risk as spray and large waves are expected. There may also be a short term loss of power.