Five maps of the 'weather bomb' that's about to hit the UK

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning ('be aware') for much of the country, with a so-called "weather bomb" bringing storm-force winds and giant waves to our shores today.

The weather bomb, also known as an "explosive cyclogenesis", is classified by a 24 millibar drop in pressure within a 24-hour period - this weather system is set to hit Britain and Ireland today with effects lasting through Thursday.

This intense drop in pressure sees dry air from the stratosphere flow into an area of low pressure, which in turn causes air in the depression to rise rapidly, spiral, and create strong storm winds, as the Met Office explains in more detail here.

The Met Office has warned people to expect possible travel disruptions and coastal flooding in some areas.

Here are five maps that help show the scale of the weather bomb.