With dangerous conditions, here’s a reminder you can check your local forecast on the BBC Weather website.

For Android users, you can download the BBC Weather app, external, while iPhone users can get it here, external.

Get all the latest updates on Cumbria which is on standby for a major incident - and the North East.

Image source, bbc

It is not safe to drive, walk or swim through floodwater.

Avoid it where possible and if you are affected by fast flowing or deep water call 999 and wait for help.

If you must drive, you can do this more safely by:

• Slowing down
• Using main roads
• Using dipped headlights
• Giving yourself more time to react on slippery surfaces
• Keeping a bigger gap between vehicles

More tips about driving in severe weather, external.

Electricity North West says it is starting to feel the impact of Storm Isha - more than 700 homes are reportedly without power.

It looks like northern parts of Lancashire, as well as Cumbria, are the worst affected areas, although some customers in Macclesfield down in Cheshire are without power too.

This is the second highest of the Met Office's three warning levels, below 'red' but above 'yellow'. The Met Office warns:

• good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage
• probably some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs
• longer journey times and cancellations likely as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected
• some roads and bridges likely to close
• injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties

Electricity North West said it has hundreds of engineers on standby to repair any damage quickly and safely during Storm Isha.

It also said it has extra call agents on hand to provide help and support to customers.

Electricity North West warned customers that conditions during the storm may be too dangerous for lines teams to climb and in some cases power may well be off overnight and into Monday until conditions ease.

Steph Trubshaw, the firm’s customer director, advised people to charge phones and laptops, get blankets and torches ready ahead of possible power cuts.

"As always, if people see any damaged equipment, then stay well clear as it could still be live.

Call us on 105 and we will send engineers to make it safe. If there is a life-threatening situation call 999.”

Avanti West Coast has warned against travel, with trains running at reduced speed, while TransPennine Express is advising passengers not to use services between Preston and Edinburgh and Preston and Glasgow.

Meanwhile, Northern says railway lines between Skipton and Lancaster are blocked due to flooding. It says services running through these stations may be cancelled, and disruption is expected for the rest of the evening.

Image source, PA Media

We're getting some reports of homes losing their electricity supply in parts of our region. We'll bring you a summary as soon as we can.

If your power goes off, though, these simple steps, external can help you:

• Switch off all electrical appliances that shouldn’t be left unattended, ready for when the power comes back on
• Leave a light on, so you know when the power cut has been fixed
• Check to see if your neighbours are safe and if they have a power cut too
• If they have power, your trip switch may have activated
• If it's cold, wrap up warm and close internal doors to keep the heat in
• Portable heaters are a good alternative if heating systems are down
• Call 105 for information, it’s a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales

Manchester Airport is advising passengers to check with their airline for up-to-date flight information.

It also warns passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey to the airport as road and rail services may be impacted by the storm.

Watch the latest North West BBC weather forecast as Storm Isha starts to hit our region.

In addition to the very strong wind, torrential rain is lashing down across much of the North West, leading to fears of flooding.

We're keeping a close eye on the latest updates from the Environment Agency, external.

So far there is one flood alert - for Bolton by Bowland in Lancashire.

Image source, environment agency

Graham Liver is bringing you all the updates as Storm Isha hits the North West until 22:00 GMT on BBC Local Radio.

The Steam Packet Company has cancelled sailings between Douglas and Heysham due to the "severe weather" for the rest of the day.

Network Rail says 50mph speed restrictions will be imposed across most routes as a precautionary safety measure.

“Passengers are being strongly advised to check before travelling this as Storm Isha will bring travel disruption across the country,” a statement said.

It says that while speed restrictions are designed to "keep passengers and trains safe from falling trees and debris blown onto the track" it will result in fewer services with elongated journey times (usual top line speeds vary from 80mph-125mph).

“It’s likely that travel disruption will continue into Monday morning as engineers finish the clean-up operation removing fallen trees and debris and running ‘ghost trains’ to ensure lines are clear before allowing passenger trains to restart.”

If it is safe and legal for you to do so, please send us your video and images of the efffects of Storm Isha.

You can email us at nwt@bbc.co.uk.

A selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise.

Your contact details will never be published.

• People are warned not to travel as Storm Isha brings rain and gusts of up to 90mph
• Isha has prompted an amber weather warning for wind and a yellow warning for rain across north-west England
• Expect disruption caused by potential flooding and power cuts
• There is also a risk to life in coastal areas due to large waves and flying debris
• The Met Office says it's "relatively rare" for the whole of the country to be affected by storm warnings
• Storm Isha is the ninth named storm since September

Welcome to our coverage of Storm Isha here in the North West of England and Isle of Man.

An amber weather warning comes into force from 18:00 GMT and will remain in place until 06:00 on Monday.

Very high winds are forecast, with gusts of up to 80mph (128km/h).

Torrential rain is expected throughout the night, with the risk of flooding in some areas.