Western Scotland and north-west England are likely to see the heaviest rainfall on Friday and Saturday, and many places could see as much as 40-60mm of rainfall within this period, with some places such as the southern uplands seeing as much as 70mm of rain.
Those living in parts of Scotland’s Highlands and Western Isles have been warned of a “danger to life” from flying debris, potential power cuts as well as road closures and damage to buildings.
Several ScotRail services and ferries have been cancelled ahead of the storm’s arrival.
Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “We are urging people planning to travel on trains, ferries and flights to contact their operators to find out if their service is affected.
“Motorists will face difficult driving conditions, so it’s vital people plan ahead if they have to travel to see if their route is impacted by the weather.”
Some ferry services between Cairnryan in Scotland and Northern Ireland were cancelled from midday on Friday.
Passengers are advised to check with Stena Line and P&O Ferries before they travel.
Northern Ireland’s Education Authority closed schools in counties Antrim, Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh from noon on Friday “in the interests of safety” due to expected high winds.
Storm Amy will move to the north of the UK through Friday night, when wind speeds are expected to be at their highest. A cold front will also sink southwards bringing heavy rain.
Overnight, the winds will peak across Scotland as heavy rain sweeps south-east across England and Wales, before gradually easing later on Saturday.
On Sunday as the centre of Storm Amy moves out into the North Sea, there will still be strong winds, with another yellow warning in place for parts of northern Scotland.