UK weather forecast: Met Office issues yellow warning for heavy rain and flood alerts across England and Wales

The Met Office said 60 to 80mm of rain could fall in Wales and the north west today, with yellow warnings in place between 6am and 8pm
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The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for heavy rain this week as storms batter the UK.

The national forecaster has warned the persistent strong winds and rain will hit the northwest of England today (10 January), and flooding of some homes and businesses is “likely”.

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In an alert, the forecaster said outbreaks will spread across England and Wales, with heavier and more persistent rain in northwestern parts.

A band of rain is due to sweep across the UK from the Atlantic, falling heaviest in western areas but causing wet and windy conditions all over the country.

Alex Burkill of the Met Office said 60 to 80mm of rain could fall in Wales and the north west, with yellow warnings in place between 6am and 8pm. Yellow warnings are issued when it is likely the weather will cause “some low-level impacts”.

Mr Burkill added: “That is not to say that other areas will not have heavy rain as well. There is the chance we could get close to 100mm across the higher grounds of Snowdonia but it looks slightly less wet than it did this morning. There is more wet weather to come this week.”

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The persistent heavy rain may lead to some travel disruption and flooding alerts are in place today.

The Met Office has warned people to expect flooding, travel problems and possible power supply problems. The forecaster said flooding of homes and businesses is "likely", while bus and train services will probably take longer than usual.

Mr Burkill said flood warnings are in place because of “the accumulative impact” of rain and because of “how much we have had in the past and how much there will be this week.”

Where are flood alerts in place?

Natural Resources Wales has flood alerts in place in central and south Wales and Environment Agency flood warnings are still in place after the River Severn burst its banks near Worcester.

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There are also groundwater flood warnings across Dorset and Hampshire, which reflect a more delayed flood risk. The Met Office is warning of surface water runoff in western parts of the UK extending into Yorkshire.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue said it has attended several flood-related incidents this week and is warning the public to stay safe near water.

In a statement published on Monday (9 January), it said: “The popularity of outdoor water-related activities, such as open water swimming and stand-up paddle-boarding, has grown in recent years. However, the service urges people to avoid taking part in such activities following recent spells of heavy rainfall and during a weather warning.

“The risks of entering open water include strong currents and cold-water shock as the temperature can be much colder than anticipated, especially in fast-flowing sections. The service also urges people to avoid visiting popular water beauty spots and if you are walking near water, keep dogs on their leads, time your walks to make the most of the daylight and always keep back from the edge.

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“When driving, you may encounter standing water without much warning, which can present a real danger of aquaplaning. Never enter flooded roads; the water can often be deeper and faster-flowing than you may realise.”

The expected areas affected include:

  • Derby
  • Derbyshire
  • Blackburn
  • Blackpool
  • Cheshire East
  • Cheshire West
  • Chester
  • Cumbria
  • Greater Manchester
  • Lancashire
  • Merseyside
  • Warrington
  • Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent
  • North Yorkshire

The public are being told to make the most of the mild temperatures this week, as forecasters suggest next week will become bitterly cold once again.

Temperatures could drop as low as -13C and -7C in northern England, while it will also dip below freezing in the south, according to weather charts.

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