Warnings of severe and disruptive winds have been issued for Sunday as Storm Isha brings fears of travel chaos to many parts of the UK. People in Northern Ireland have been warned of severe gusts, with the risk of large waves along coastal paths, loose debris and difficult travelling conditions. The Department of Infrastructure said it expects all parts of Northern Ireland to be affected, with the strongest winds during the early hours of Monday, around the coast and in exposed locations. It also warned that recent strike action may hamper recovery efforts – last week thousands of public sector workers staged pickets in the biggest industrial action in living memory – and advised drivers to consider their journeys as strong winds were forecast for from 11am on Sunday to 4am on Monday. A status yellow wind warning will remain in place for all counties until noon on Monday. “After Storm Isha tomorrow there’s more wet and windy weather on the way on Tuesday, with a yellow warning for wind already in place,” the Met Office said on Saturday. On Friday, the forecaster issued amber weather warnings for wind for northern and western England, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland from Sunday into Monday, warning of strong winds, heavy rain, a risk to lives and damage to buildings. “Outbreaks of rain will move across many areas this afternoon, with some heavier rain developing over the hills,” the Met Office said on Saturday. “South-east England and East Anglia however will hold on to some brightness and for all of us it will feel less cold than of late.” In Scotland, railway lines will close early across the country on Sunday in anticipation of severe conditions. The Met Office has two yellow warnings in place for rain – with one in force in the south of Scotland and another which spans from Glasgow to just south of Fort William. On Sunday, the rain warning will extend across the whole of Scotland. An amber wind warning will come into place at 9pm on Sunday and will remain in force until 9am on Monday. Rail services will come to an early stop on all routes outside the central belt, along with Fife, the Scottish Borders, Maryhill, East Kilbride and Kilmarnock lines. Other services in the central belt will run on a reduced timetable and passengers can expect longer journey times, as trains will be limited to 40mph. Storm Isha is expected to bring winds of up to 80mph in places on Sunday night, which could lead to trees and debris blocking the tracks. Rain and melting snow will also increase the risk of landslips and flooding, potentially blocking railway lines. Network Rail said engineers will inspect closed lines for damage after the storm subsides, warning passengers that services would start later on Monday on affected routes. The railway operator advised commuters to check their journey with National Rail Enquiries. Liam Sumpter, chief operating officer at Scotland’s Railway, said: “Our priority is the safety of our passengers and colleagues and that is why we have taken the decision to close some parts of our network early on Sunday night as the worst of Storm Isha hits the country. “Our engineers will also need to thoroughly inspect the network for any damage before we reopen the lines and restart train services on Monday morning. “Weather specialists, based in our control room, will monitor conditions closely throughout the weekend and our teams on the ground will be ready to deal with any issues caused by the storm as quickly as possible.”