UK weather: Met Office issues yellow warning for nearly all of Britain TODAY as Storm Pia sparks Christmas getaway chaos

THE Met Office has issued an urgent yellow warning for nearly all of Britain today - as Storm Pia sparks Christmas getaway chaos.

Strong winds will bluster across a large swathe of the country until 9pm today.

3

3

3

Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales, northern England, the Midlands and East Anglia are all covered by the wind warning.

Road, train, air and ferry journeys will all take longer, with brief power cuts also expected.

People in coastal parts should look out for spray and large waves on the sea front.

The sprawling wind system has been named Storm Pia by the Danish Met Office.

Forecasters said that there could be winds of up to 70mph in the north of the warning area.

The gusts might briefly reach 80mph across the far north of Scotland and the Northern Isles this morning.

Met Office expert Paul Gundersen said: "Strong winds are likely to develop across a large area of the UK.

"We’ve issued a large yellow warning area where there’s a potential for some impacts.

"But gusts of 50-60mph are possible for large parts of central and northern areas of the UK.

"Exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts of 70-80mph at times, mainly across the far north of Scotland.

"There’s a chance this low pressure will continue to exert its influence into Friday."

The travel warnings come as the biggest traffic hotspots and worst times to travel home for Christmas have been revealed - with Brits set to make 21million trips this week.