Parts of Northern Ireland have already been flooded due to heavy rainfall and people have been warned not to travel.

Met Office yellow weather warnings for rain are in place until 9am on Wednesday.

It has warned of between 25mm and 60mm of rain in places, and up to 100mm is also possible over higher ground.

Check the latest weather forecast where you are

Met Office yellow weather warnings for rain and wind are in force between Wednesday and Friday across parts of England, Scotland and Wales.

Issuing the new amber warnings for the South West and the south coast, forecasters said strong winds could disrupt travel and cause structural damage - and warned that flying debris could pose a danger to life.

Trains and planes could be delayed, while roads and bridges face potential closure.

Flooding in Northern Ireland

There were reports of flooding in Newry in Co Down on Monday after the city's canal burst its banks, while in Dromantine, around 100 sheep were rescued after becoming stranded in a flooded field.

Newry resident Dessie Heatley described the scenes as a "repeat of what happened here around 35 years ago".

"We were up and down here in boats," he said. "It's pretty bad, I'm sure all the shopkeepers are raging, we'd no warning or nothing."

Met Eireann - the Irish National Meteorological Service - says spot flooding was expected in Ulster throughout the morning before clearing slowly northwards.

Earlier, an amber warning for heavy rain was in place covering counties Antrim, Down and Armagh, and was lifted at 9am on Tuesday.

Stormont's Department for Infrastructure said police were warning people not to travel while the amber warning was in effect.

It said: "The persistent wet conditions on saturated ground and with higher river levels - this will inevitably lead to more localised flooding. Traffic disruption is possible, and the public are being asked to consider their journeys and take extra care if travel is necessary.

"It may be necessary to close roads or put temporary restrictions in place."

Downpours expected in parts of England and Wales

Storm Ciaran is set to bring strong winds and heavy downpours to southern parts of England and Wales - with "unsettled" conditions forecast for much of the UK.

Gusts of 80mph are possible along the south coast of England, with 20 to 25mm of rain expected across southern and western areas, but potentially more over higher ground, the Met Office said.

The forecaster warned already flood-affected areas following Storm Babet could get worse.

Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said Storm Ciaran was "likely to be a notch down" in intensity from Storm Babet, but flooding could still occur because the ground is "so laden with water" and river levels "are at their highest".

She told Sky News the key features of Storm Ciaran would be "wind damage" and a "lot of rain", adding the rain would "slowly move northward".

Ms Nasir said the storm would impact southern areas of the UK on Wednesday evening as it approaches, as well as on Thursday morning during rush hour, before it tracks northwards.

"We could see some coastal flooding because the winds will be so strong, particularly initially across more southern areas," she said.

"It's not a fast-moving system, so it's going to be with us for at least two-and-a-half, if not three, days and most places will be impacted in some shape or form by this storm."

Her colleague Marco Petagna added: "There are possible gusts of 80 to 90 miles an hour in some exposed southern areas. It's probably quite a nasty storm this one."

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The Environment Agency has issued 25 flood warnings and more than 100 flood alerts.

Kate Marks, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We urge people to stay safe on the coast and to remember to take extreme care on coastal paths and promenades.

"Flooding of low-lying coastal roads is also possible and people must avoid driving through floodwater, as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car."

Meanwhile, the Thames Barrier in London closed from around 10.40am on Tuesday because "a high tide" forecast "combined with high river flows".

It will be the flooding defence system's 209th closure, and the first of this flood season.

Is Storm Ciaran affecting an area near you?

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