THE Met Office has issued an urgent yellow weather warning – with heavy rain set to spark travel chaos and floods.

A band of rain will slowly push across western Scotland today before clearing this evening.

2

2

Forecasters have issued a yellow rain warning for the area, which will be in force until 9pm.

Spray and flooding on the roads will probably make journey times longer.

Bus and train services will likely be affected, with delays in store for many.

And flooding of a few homes, businesses and campsites is also possible.

Around 50-75mm of rain is likely to fall over higher ground in Lochaber, Argyll, the Trossachs and Dumfries and Galloway.

Somewhere between 20-40mm of rain could fall elsewhere in the warning zone.

Strong and gusty southerly winds will accompany the rain and there is the possibility of the odd rumble of thunder too.

The Scottish Environment Agency has issued six amber flood alerts across the region.

A red flood warning is also in force for Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway.

Outbreaks of rain will also affect parts of Northern Ireland and north west England today before spreading into west Wales later.

Elsewhere will be largely dry with bright or sunny intervals and feeling warmer and more humid than yesterday.

Heavy rain will move slowly eastwards overnight – with a risk of thunder before it peters out.

But it will be another warm and humid night for many, forecasters said.