Storm Babet is set to hit the UK this week, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, with “significant and widespread disruption” possible in Scotland.

The Met Office said the storm, named on Monday, is forecast to bring “impactful heavy rain” to the UK from Wednesday.

Strong winds will accompany the storm.

There is a “chance of extremely heavy rain to cause flooding and disruption” – as well as “strong south-easterly winds”, which would “exacerbate” any impacts, the forecaster added.

A yellow weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for central and eastern Scotland, where some “exceptional” rainfall levels could build up over two or three days.

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Yellow rain warnings are in place from 6am on Thursday until midnight on Saturday, mainly in the Grampian region.

Scotland saw heavy flooding last week with major travel disruption and 10 people airlifted to safety after extreme rainfall caused multiple landslides.

Deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said the rain forecast for Scotland later this week could fall on ground “already saturated after recent heavy rainfall”.

“This could lead to some significant and widespread disruption,” he said.

The Met Office said the worst of the rain was expected over higher ground and further warnings would likely be issued later in the week.

Sky News meteorologist Chris England said: “Gusty winds will bring a risk of severe gales to parts of northern and eastern Scotland, especially to the lee of the mountains.”

He added that while there is the chance of localised flooding, details are uncertain at this point.

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The rest of the UK will see a change to “milder but much more unsettled conditions from midweek”, he said, with strong winds and prolonged heavy rain expected across much of the country.

Storm Babet is the second named storm of the season, after Storm Agnes swept through the UK and Ireland in late September.

Storms are named when they are deemed to have the potential to cause “medium” or “high” impacts.

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