Yellow, amber or red? Met Office warnings explained

Met Office warning colours are not simply a scale of how severe the weather will be. Each one combines two things: how much impact the weather could have, and how likely that impact is. That is why a yellow warning can sometimes cover very bad weather that is unlikely to reach you.

What each colour means

| Colour | What it means | What to do | |---|---|---| | Yellow | Some disruption is possible, or worse weather is possible but not likely | Check your plans and keep an eye on updates | | Amber | Increased likelihood of impacts such as travel delays, power cuts or risk to property | Think about changing your plans and take steps to protect yourself and your property | | Red | Dangerous weather is expected, with a risk to life and widespread damage | Take action now to keep yourself and others safe, and follow advice from the emergency services |

Why the same weather gets different colours

A warning depends on what the weather will do to people, not only on a number on a chart. Five centimetres of snow in a city at rush hour causes more trouble than the same snow on a high moor that is used to it. Heavy rain falling on ground that is already soaked is worse than the same rain after a dry spell. So there is no fixed line such as "60mph means amber".

What to check in a warning

• The type: rain, wind, snow, ice, thunderstorms, fog, heat or lightning. Each has its own risks.
• The times: warnings have a start and end, and these can move.
• The area: warnings are drawn by region, and your own patch may be at the edge.
• The updates: colours can go up or down as the forecast firms up.

Warnings are not flood warnings

Met Office warnings cover the weather. Flood warnings come from different bodies. In England that is the Environment Agency, and we explain those in flood alert or flood warning.

You can see everything currently in force on our warnings page, with a link to the full text on the Met Office site.