Flood and weather warnings issued before 70mm rain hits parts of UK
Following last week’s snowfall during Storm Goretti, the Met Office has issued new weather warnings for ice and rain across England this week.
Icy conditions are expected to cause travel disruptions in parts of Scotland from 8pm on Tuesday night until 10am on Wednesday morning, according to the national forecaster.
The areas affected by this weather warning are: Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, south-west Scotland, Lothian Borders and Strathclyde.
Forecasters predicted that “clear weather impacts will lead to ice forming on raw surfaces Tuesday night,” especially in areas where snow melts heavily during the day and also where “winter showers move inland from the west overnight.”
Icy conditions are expected on roads, pavements and cycle paths, and the Met Office has advised pedestrians to leave home at least five minutes earlier than usual to avoid rushing and the risk of accidents, slips and falls on icy surfaces.
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A yellow weather warning, with possible flooding, has been issued in South West England on Thursday. The Met Office said: “A deepening area of low pressure will move north-eastwards across England and Wales on Thursday. “Although the exact path is uncertain, rain will remain persistent and heavy throughout the day, then clear northwards during the evening and overnight.
“Accumulations of 20-40mm are expected to be quite widespread, falling in just a few hours in some places, with the potential for 40-70mm in a few isolated spots, most likely across parts of south-west England. Given the saturated ground, this could lead to some surface water flooding.”
Areas covered by this warning include London and southeast England, South West England, Wales and the West Midlands.
The Environment Agency has also issued two flood warnings for England, as well as around 40 flood warnings in areas where flooding is possible.
This follows heavy snowfall in the UK last week, with up to 30cm covering some areas amid warnings of the “worst snowfall in a decade”.
Storm Goretti crossed the Channel towards the UK on Thursday evening and Friday, battering the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall with hurricane-force winds and blanketing much of the UK in snow. The storm caused winds of almost 100 mph across southwest England last week and a rare red warning for “dangerous, gusty” winds.
Met Office’s five-day weather forecast
Today:
There will also be rain, which is expected to be heavy from time to time. The rain will then clear in the north, giving sunny skies in the afternoon and a wintry turn of scattered showers over the hills in Scotland. Forecasters predict cold weather in the north and milder weather in the south.
Tonight:
Forecasters predict scattered showers will continue in northern Scotland tonight. The rain is expected to continue in southern England. Elsewhere skies will be clear, with a few areas of fog and widespread frost in the south.
Wednesday:
Cloudy, showers and showers are expected in the south on Wednesday. They are forecasting a dry start elsewhere before a band of rain moves westwards in the afternoon.
Outlook from Thursday to Saturday:
More rainfall is expected throughout next week. Temperatures will be around January averages in the south and colder in the north. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected Thursday night.
