Met Office UK weather forecast: Weather warning issued for "heavy and persistent rain"
The Met Office has issued a weather warning as “heavy and persistent rain” could lead to flooding.
More severe weather is on the way according to the Met Office who has issued a warning ahead of “heavy and persistent rain” hitting the UK. The national weather service has said the downpours could lead to flooding in places.
The yellow Met Office warning covers the south of the UK, including Bath, Salisbury, Portsmouth and Brighton, from 9am until 10pm on Thursday (January 15). It states heavy rain falling on saturated ground may lead to some surface water flooding.
Flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible and travel may be disrupted. Bus and train journey times may take longer and spray and flooding on roads will also slow down journeys.
Last week, Storm Goretti brought gusts of almost 100mph and a rare red warning for “dangerous, stormy” winds in the south-west of England.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has three flood warnings in place for England, meaning flooding is expected, along with 41 flood alerts where flooding is possible. Between 20 and 30mm of rain is expected fairly widely in the warning area, with the potential for 40 to 50mm in a few isolated spots, the forecaster added.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: “As we head into tomorrow, important to note it will be drier for much of the north of England, Scotland and Wales, but north-west Scotland could see some showers.
“An area of low pressure is going to bring heavy and persistent rain to parts of southern England and will be accompanied by some gusty winds at times. There’s the possibility of travel disruption for some and the possibility of flooding in a few places as well.”
Parts of the south could see winds of 35 to 45mph at times, which the Met Office is keeping an eye on, Mr Dixon said.
There will be some showers in western areas on Friday and patchy cloud elsewhere, with a similar picture over the weekend, Mr Dixon added.
On Monday (January 12), the UK Government said the wintry weather had triggered its cold weather payments scheme, which means pensioners and low-income households automatically receive £25 for every seven-consecutive-day period of very cold weather. The scheme covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Minister for pensions Torsten Bell said: ”As temperatures plunge, cold weather payments will automatically get support directly to vulnerable households.”
Earlier, police said a man in his 50s was found dead in a caravan after a tree fell on to the vehicle in Helston, Cornwall, following Storm Goretti. Emergency services were called to the scene on Thursday evening and work took place on Friday to remove the tree.