The UK is bracing for another weekend of wet and windy conditions, with 36 flood warnings active across the country. As of Saturday morning, 22 warnings were in place in England, eight in Scotland, and six in Wales, according to the Environment Agency and the Met Office.
The Met Office has cautioned of “potentially disruptive weather next week,” with heavy downpours expected in south Wales, south-west England, and Cumbria. Rain on already saturated ground could lead to difficult travel conditions in these areas. Gusty winds are also forecast, though temperatures are expected to remain mild.
Northern Ireland, north-east England, and south-east Scotland are predicted to experience the best chance of drier weather this weekend. However, another band of rain is forecast to move across the country in a north-easterly direction on Sunday, with persistent spells likely in northern areas.
A potentially deep area of low pressure could cause further problems next week. “A deepening area of low pressure will approach the UK from the south-west later on Monday, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds, which are likely to affect the UK between late Monday and early Wednesday,” said Steven Keates, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office. He added that the exact track and timing remain uncertain, but the system has the potential to cause disruption, and severe weather warnings are likely to be issued over the weekend.
The Met Office forecast for the rest of December remains unsettled, with further periods of low pressure predicted. Meteorologists said it is too early to provide an accurate forecast for the Christmas period. Earlier this week, a yellow weather warning for freezing fog was issued across parts of southeast England, with visibility falling below 100 metres in places.
