The Met Office issues weather warnings through the National Severe Weather Warning Service when severe weather has the potential to affect the UK.

These warnings are given a color – yellow, amber or red – depending on a combination of both the impact the weather may have and the likelihood of those impacts occurring.

Here’s what the colors mean…

Yellow warning

Many of these warnings are issued when the weather is likely to cause some low-level impacts, including some disruption to travel in some locations.

Many people will be able to continue with their daily routine, but there will be some who will be directly affected.

Other Yellow Alerts are issued when the weather may have much more serious consequences for the majority of people but the certainty of these effects occurring is much lower.

Amber warning

This means there is an increased likelihood of severe weather impacts, potentially disrupting your plans.

There is a risk of travel delays, road and rail closures, power outages and potential risk to life and property.

If an area has been issued an Amber Alert, residents should consider changing their plans and taking steps to protect themselves and their property.

Red warning

Hazardous weather is expected and, if you haven’t already, you should take steps now to protect yourself and others from the effects of the severe weather.

It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with significant disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly extensive damage to property and infrastructure.