Storm Ali – where is the oncoming storm, what’s the Met Office warning level and what’s the UK weather forecast?

BRITS are battening down the hatches as Storm Ali barrels into the UK — bringing destructive winds and huge sea swells.

An Amber weather warning has been issued calling for people to take immediate action to protect against 102mph gales that pose a threat to life. Here's the latest.

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Where is Storm Ali now?

Storm Ali, the first named Storm of the season, hit Britain on September 19 morning.

It will affect the whole of Northern Ireland, as well as the far north of England and southern/central Scotland.

Roads and railways could be closed as uprooted trees and debris block routes.

Ferry services and airports will likely be affected by the strong gusts which could lead to injuries — and pose a threat to life.

Gales of up to 102mph will also damage buildings while power cuts and phone outages are also expected.

Heavy rain will also come with what the Met Office calls the "extremely strong winds".

What's the Met Office warning level?

Storm Ali is expected to bring a very windy spell of weather.

This has led the Met Office to issue an Amber weather warning — the second highest on its scale from Yellow to Red.

Forecasters say that people in the affected areas should expect:

• Flying debris that could lead to injuries or danger to life
• Damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs or damage through falling trees and branches breaking
• Longer journey times and cancellations, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected
• Power cuts, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
• Some roads and bridges to close
• Large waves to affect coastal roads, sea fronts and properties

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The Met Office said: "Storm Ali will bring a spell of very strong winds to Northern Ireland from early on Wednesday morning, before these strong winds spread to far north-west England and central and southern Scotland by late morning.

"Strong winds will be accompanied by heavy squally showers. Some areas, especially high ground and coastal regions, including within the Central Belt, could see gusts of 80 mph at times.

"Winds will ease from the west through the afternoon."

Meanwhile, a Yellow weather warning is in place for much of the rest of the north of the UK tonight.

Strong winds and gust of up to 75mph are forecast from North Wales and northern England up to the Shetlands.

The warning is in place until 10pm on Wednesday night.

A Yellow warning for wind and rain is in place for Thursday, September 20.

A Yellow wind warning has been issued for much of England and western Wales for Thursday night and Friday morning.

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What is the UK weather forecast?

Large parts of northern England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland will be battered by strong gales due to Storm Ali.

Heavy rain will also accompany the wind.

Elsewhere it will be windy too, with sunny spells either side of a band of showery rain, moving south-eastwards.

But temperatures will remain reasonably high for this time of year.

Tonight the strongest winds will ease but it will remain very windy in the north with gales and blustery showers.

There will be clear spells further south before heavy rain reaches Wales, central and northern England towards dawn tomorrow.