The south west of England and South Wales have experienced rain every day in 2026 so far, with more wet weather forecast, according to the Met Office. January saw 50% more rainfall than average, making it the 12th wettest on record for the region.
A yellow weather warning for rain is in effect from 5am to just before midnight on Thursday, stretching from Chichester to Penzance, covering parts of south east and south west England, as well as South Wales. The Met Office warned of potential surface water flooding and difficult driving conditions.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: “The south west of England and southern Wales has seen a very wet start to the year, with rain reported somewhere in the region every day of the year so far.” He noted that a succession of fronts from mid-January pushed rainfall to over 50% above average.
On Thursday, heavy and persistent rain is expected, with 10-20mm widely and over 30mm in some areas. Flooding of homes and businesses is possible, along with potential power disruptions. A separate yellow warning covers parts of Scotland from Wednesday evening to Thursday midday, with rain and melting snow causing travel disruption.
As of Thursday morning, 62 flood warnings and 145 flood alerts were in place across England. Meteorologist Alex Deakin said low pressure from the south west will bring “cloud and rain” and a “chill to most places”, with temperatures below average by one to three degrees in many areas.
