The Met Office has issued a fresh yellow weather warning for rain, putting 39 specific areas across the UK on alert for potential flooding later this week. Heavy downpours of up to 70mm are forecast to fall on ground already saturated by last week's severe weather, including Storm Goretti.
Widespread Disruption Expected on Thursday
The warning is active from 9am on Thursday until the end of the day. It covers a significant swathe of southern England, parts of Wales, and the West Midlands. The Met Office states that a deepening area of low pressure will move northeast across England and Wales, bringing persistent and heavy rain.
The forecaster warns that 20-40mm of rain is expected widely, with a potential for 40-70mm in isolated spots, most likely in southwest England. Given the already waterlogged ground, this is likely to lead to surface water flooding in many places.
Public Urged to Prepare Emergency Kits
Residents in the affected regions are being strongly advised to check if their property is at risk and to prepare accordingly. Official guidance recommends creating a flood plan and assembling an emergency flood kit.
The Environment Agency currently has three more serious flood warnings in place for England, where flooding is expected, alongside 40 flood alerts where flooding is possible. This new Met Office warning adds to the existing concerns for communities still recovering from recent wet weather.
Icy Conditions Forecast for Scotland
Separately, a yellow warning for ice has been issued for much of western and northern Scotland. This warning runs from 8pm on Tuesday until 10am on Wednesday. Icy surfaces are predicted to form where recent heavy snow has melted or where there has been significant rainfall, creating hazardous travel conditions.
The broader Met Office forecast for Thursday to Saturday indicates further rain across the UK, with temperatures around average in the south but remaining cold in the north. A spell of heavy rain and strong winds is considered possible on Thursday night.
The full list of regions under the yellow rain warning for Thursday includes:
- London & South East England: Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex.
- South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Torbay, Wiltshire.
- Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan.
- West Midlands: Herefordshire, Worcestershire.
