Weather map: Where heavy rain will hit London, England and Wales this weekend after Met Office warning
Yellow weather warnings are in place across the UK as heavy showers affect parts of the country over the weekend and early next week.
The Met Office has warned that a developing area of low pressure will move across the southern and central parts of the UK on Saturday, bringing bands of heavy rain and gusty winds, particularly in Wales, the Midlands and southern England.
The forecaster said we could see disruption and possible flooding from the early hours of Saturday morning, with up to 80mm of rain expected in the South West of England and Wales.
Forecasters have predicted that the Northern and Southern Downs of England can expect to see close to 50 to 60mm of rainfall, with strong winds particularly affecting coastal areas.
There is a yellow weather warning for rain from 6am until midnight on Saturday, spreading across the East Midlands, eastern England, London, southern England, south-west England, Yorkshire and Wales.
The Met Office said up to 60-80mm of rain could fall on high ground, with 20-30mm potentially falling over a fairly wide area.
There are no weather warnings in place on Sunday as conditions are expected to become drier and brighter; but temperatures are likely to be cooler, hovering around 7°C in the south and 3°C in Scotland.
But as we head into the new week, rain is expected to return following three yellow weather warnings. The warnings cover Wales and South West England from midnight until 3pm on Monday, and London and South East England from 8am on Monday until 6am on Tuesday.
According to the Met Office, the heaviest rainfall is likely to occur in parts of south and south-west England and south Wales. The report said 20-30mm of rain could fall fairly widely across the wider region, but 60-80mm was likely to accumulate on some windward high ground in south Wales and the high ground of Dartmoor.
Forecasters are predicting around 40-50mm of rain will fall in the higher elevations of Exmoor, Dorset, the Mendips and the Cotswolds, and up to 50-60mm in the Northern and Southern Downs.
Forecasters have warned that there is a possibility of some flooding in affected areas, which could lead to disruptions to travel networks and infrastructure.
The Met Office added that the rains will be accompanied by strong southwestern winds, especially in areas close to the English Channel coast.
Chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “While the exact course of the low remains uncertain at this time, there is a clear signal for periods of strong winds and heavy rain, which could cause surface water flooding and delays to road and rail travel.
“Rain will also impact North East England on Saturday, some of which may fall as snow on higher ground as the system encounters colder air from the north.
“Sunday will be drier and brighter, albeit colder, for many areas where strong winds will blow near the North Sea coast. Widespread frost is expected overnight into Monday before the next weather system approaches.”
It is estimated that the weather will remain unstable next week, with rainy and windy conditions occasionally turning drier and milder.
