The Met Office has issued an amber 'danger to life' warning for rain across parts of Scotland, as the UK prepares for heavy downpours and potential flooding. Up to 150mm of rainfall is forecast in some areas, with the amber warning in effect from midnight on Thursday, January 22, until 6pm the same day.
Forecasters warn that homes and businesses in the affected areas are likely to be flooded, with floodwater posing a danger to life. A yellow weather warning for rain has also been issued across wider parts of Scotland, from 6pm on Wednesday, January 21, until 11:59pm on Friday, January 23.
Elsewhere, yellow warnings for rain cover parts of southwest England and south Wales, where five to 15mm of rain is expected widely, with up to 20mm in some places. This could lead to flooding and disruption to road, bus, and train services.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Dan Harris said: 'Rain will turn increasingly persistent and heavy late on Wednesday and through much of Thursday for parts of Scotland, which has resulted in Amber and Yellow warnings for rain being issued. Within the Amber warning area, some areas of high ground exposed to the strong southeasterly wind are likely to see in excess of 100 mm of rain, whilst 50-80 mm is more probable for many places within the broader Yellow warning.'
The Environment Agency has issued 10 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and more than 131 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, across England as of Thursday morning.
