Storm Gerrit LIVE weather and traffic updates with Met Office warnings in place

A number of weather warnings are in place across the UK today as Storm Gerrit brings heavy rain and strong winds.

Travellers have been warned of delays and potentially hazardous conditions on their way home from the Christmas holidays as the storm hits. In Greater Manchester, a yellow Met Office rain warning came into force at 3am and will last until 6pm.

Rain showers are forecast for much of the day, with heavy downpours forecast at around 8am and then at around 2pm. Forecasters predict that in the area covered by the warning, which also includes much of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire, that there is a 'risk of flooding' with potential travel disruption - view all the flood alerts in place here.

READ MORE: The 25 Greater Manchester surnames that could land you a fortune in unclaimed estates

READ MORE: I survived Boxing Day sales at the Trafford Centre - this is what I learnt

On Wednesday morning, the Met Office also issued a new weather warning covering Greater Manchester. The warning for wind comes into force at 6pm and lasts until 3am on December 28 (Thursday).

Wind and rain warnings are also in place in Scotland, Wales and in the south of England. Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the storm was named as a warning to people coming home after the Christmas holidays.

He said: "Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that."

Follow our live blog below for the latest weather and traffic updates throughout the day.

Try MEN Premium for