The Met Office has issued a series of severe weather warnings across the United Kingdom, with forecasters predicting over 59 hours of persistent and heavy rain set to batter the nation from Thursday, November 13, to Saturday, November 15.
Widespread Disruption and Immediate Impacts
This prolonged period of wet weather is expected to bring widespread disruption, with a high potential for flooding. The situation has already turned severe in some areas, notably in Nottingham, where significant city centre flooding transformed a busy junction into what was described as a 'swimming pool', forcing its closure.
A Met Office spokesperson detailed the immediate forecast: "An area of rain, heavy in places, will move northwards across northern England overnight before slowly decaying over southern Scotland Thursday morning." They added that this will likely bring fairly widespread totals of 15-25 mm, with the far north of England and southern Scotland potentially seeing 40-50 mm in some places.
Regions on High Alert
The initial wave of warnings on Thursday, November 13, primarily affects northern regions. The following areas are under a yellow warning for heavy rain:
- North East England: Including Darlington, Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Northumberland.
- North West England: Cumbria.
- Scotland: Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, the Lothians, the Borders, and Strathclyde.
The weather event intensifies on Friday, with a new, more extensive warning coming into force. The Met Office warns that prolonged rain through the day and into early Saturday may lead to flooding, power cuts, and damage to buildings.
Rainfall accumulations are forecast to be substantially higher, with many areas expected to receive 60-80 mm and parts of southeast Wales potentially seeing over 100 mm on east-facing hills.
National Consequences and Official Advice
The regions facing the most severe impacts from Friday's deluge are extensive, covering southeast Wales, the Midlands, and large parts of southern England. The list of local authorities under warning includes major urban centres like Greater London, Birmingham, Bristol, and Cardiff.
Following the widespread rain, strong easterly winds are expected to sweep across the country on Saturday morning, exacerbating the difficult conditions. The Met Office is urging residents in affected areas to take precautionary steps. They recommend preparing both a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.
For those planning to travel, significant delays are likely on road and public transport networks. Officials strongly advise checking your route for disruptions before setting out.
