Britain lashed by heavy rain hit and floods as Met Office extends uncommon amber warning to Monday amid journey chaos and threats to life
Britain is braced for a soaking this weekend after the Met Office widened an amber flood warning across the North West, warning of possible danger to life from fast-flowing rivers.
Forecasters said heavy rain and flooding are likely to cause travel disruption on Saturday, with western Scotland and north-west England set to bear the brunt of ‘heavy and persistent rain’ downpours.
It warned the washout will likely lead to power cuts, floodwater, and travel delays.
Cumbria is expected to be the worst affected area, where a rare amber warning will be in effect from 6am on Sunday to 6pm on Monday as more than 200mm of rain ‘could accumulate in places’, the agency added.
Rain is due to develop across western Scotland by late Saturday morning and gusts of 60-70mph are possible along coastal areas.
Weather warnings have also been issued for north Wales, north-westerly parts of England, western Scotland and Northern Ireland on Sunday.
The Met Office warned of possible threats to life from deep and fast-flowing rivers and possible power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses following the expected rainfall.
The forecaster said some communities could be cut off by flooded roads.
DEVON: Waves batter the coastline where a train is passing by in Dawlish
SUNDAY WEATHER WARNING: Cumbria is expected to be the worst affected area, where an amber warning will be in effect from 6am on Sunday to 6pm on Monday
SATURDAY: Forecasters said heavy rain and flooding are likely to cause travel disruption
Outbreaks of rain are also expected to affect Northern Ireland, including the capital Belfast on Sunday.
The Met Office said: ‘The rain will be heavy and persistent at times with accumulations of 20-30mm expected to develop widely. Over 50mm could accumulate across higher ground.’
Conditions in Northern Ireland are expected to clear by Monday morning, with showers lingering across parts of north-west England until late Monday afternoon.
Elsewhere, the weekend will be a tale of two halves. Much of southern Britain will stay dry and bright with lighter winds.
Cloudless skies, along with patches of frost, mist and fog, are forecast across southern England on Saturday morning, while Sunday is expected to remain largely dry before a band of rain slowly edges south-east overnight into Monday.
Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: ‘The north west of the UK is set for a very wet weekend.
‘We have issued numerous severe weather warnings for rain, and it is possible that these could be upgraded so I’d advise people to keep an eye on the forecast and for Met Office weather warnings.’
Jonathan Day, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: ‘Significant surface water flooding impacts are possible in parts of the north of England on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
‘There are also possible significant river flooding impacts in parts of the north of England on Sunday and Monday, with minor flooding impacts possible more widely across northern England over the weekend.’
Floods minister Emma Hardy said: ‘I’m in continual contact with the Environment Agency as heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of the north of England, especially Cumbria, this weekend.
‘We’re co-ordinating with local authorities and emergency services to keep communities safe, and I thank them for their vital work.
‘I urge people to follow local advice, sign up for flood warnings, and stay up to date with the latest information.’
SATURDAY WEATHER: Rain is due to develop across western Scotland by late Saturday morning and gusts of 60-70mph are possible along coastal areas
It was a misty start to the day at sunrise in Dunsden, Oxfordshire this morning
Sunrise in Oxfordshire this morning as the Met Office issues a series of weather warnings for the north this weekend
NORTHERN IRELAND: A vehicle drives through a flooded coastal road on December 9, 2035
A windy walk as gusts of up to 60-70mph along coastal areas are expected in Scotland
It comes after Storm Bram battered Britain with 90mph gusts unleashing travel chaos as commuters complain of overturned vehicles, closed roads and four inches of rain.
Flights and ferries were cancelled earlier this week amid the torrential downpours – with further disruption expected tomorrow.
The Met Office issued a raft of amber and yellow warnings for rain and wind across the UK, while environment agencies imposed 325 flood alerts or warnings.
Northern Scotland were particularly badly hit with Network Rail saying a number of train services in the region have been suspended.
