The Met Office has issued weather updates warning that parts of the UK could face flash floods as more than a month’s worth of rain is expected to fall in a matter of hours. An amber warning for rain is in place for much of the country, including Wales, with the warning set to last throughout the day.
Over the weekend, rain warnings were already in effect, with a fresh yellow alert coming into play at midnight for Monday. The affected areas cover a large part of Wales, the south of England, the Midlands, north-west England, and Yorkshire. The Met Office predicts heavy rain across many parts of England and Wales during Monday.
While there is some uncertainty about the exact areas that will experience the heaviest rainfall, regions such as the Midlands, northeast England, and east Wales are most likely to see significant accumulations. The forecast suggests that 30-50 mm of rain could fall in any part of the warning area, with some locations potentially receiving 80-100 mm over 12 to 24 hours.
An amber warning came into effect at 5 am and is set to last until 9 pm, covering areas like Worcester, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Hull. Forecasters have warned of the possibility of 100 to 120 mm of rain in some regions on Monday, with more warnings likely in the coming days. Meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey highlighted that areas like Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and up towards the Wash and the Humber could see over a month’s worth of rainfall within the day.
The impact of the heavy rainfall is already evident, with areas like Bedfordshire experiencing flooding, leading to road closures and waterlogged streets. As of the latest update, 13 flood warnings have been issued for England by the Environment Agency, although there are currently no flood alerts in Wales.
The situation remains dynamic with ongoing monitoring and updates from the Met Office and relevant authorities as communities prepare for potentially severe weather conditions.