FLOODY HELL
UK weather forecast – Flash floods for Britain as month’s worth of rain hits – and MORE is on the way
FLASH floods are set to hit Britain this weekend - as one month's worth of rain is set to lash out at the UK in just 30 hours.
The Met Office has issued four weather warnings across the UK for Saturday, including parts of North East England where heavy flooding has caused severe disruption in recent weeks.
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Heavy showers are set to continue battering South West England until 6pm today – meaning a deluge for roughly 30 hours.
About 20-30mm of rain is expected widely in the region, though the up-slopes of Dartmoor in south Devon could see 40mm-50mm of rain, according to the Met Office.
The rain will move north towards Scotland throughout the day.
In the East Midlands and North East the Met Office is warning that flooding is likely until midnight, as people continue the clean-up from the deluge earlier this month.
Wales, central and South East England will escape the worst of the showers.
UNSETTLED WEATHER
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: "It's a pretty unsettled start to the weekend, and a very cloudy day today, with heavy rain pushing its way north throughout the day."
The environmental agency said nine flood warnings are in place throughout England on Saturday, mainly in the South West and North East, alongside 67 flood alerts.
Mr Dewhurst said other rainy areas could also see problems.
He added: "Some places could see 40mm to 50 mm of rain. There's quite a bit of rainfall to come in the next 24 hours."
The wet weather will subside on Sunday.
Two yellow weather warnings are in place for the east and north of Scotland until 9am tomorrow.
Mr Dewhurst said: "On Sunday the rain will ease away. It's looking like a much brighter day for many."
The Met Office tweeted: "Heavy and persistent rain will linger across parts of the southwest through tomorrow and Sunday, bringing the risk of localised flooding and travel disruption."
Yellow warnings have also been issued in north-eastern England and parts of Scotland, which will also be hit with continuing wet weather throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Coastal areas will feel particularly "chilly" as southeasterly gusts sweep in, the service added.
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The UK's weather forecast for the next five days is cold and cloudy for most areas, along with rain.
Many other areas will be cloudy, with showery rain in places - and torrential rain in parts of the south and southwest.
But, these showers will "turn heavy and persistent in parts of southwest Britain," the Met Office said.
"Northwestern areas are likely to be brightest again."
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Meanwhile, it will be "slightly less cold generally" across the UK.
The Met Office's outlook for Saturday through to Monday is for "continuing unsettled weather".
It has forecast wind, "especially in the east", along with showers "or longer spells of rain for many places, milder than of late, especially overnight."
Are you winter weather ready?
TWO-thirds of British people have been caught out by severe weather, according to the latest research from the Met Office.
This is despite regularly checking the weather forecast.
A huge 74 per cent of those surveyed don’t think they are ready for winter.
And 20 per cent admit that they only start winter preparations, such as checking their boiler and pipes and stocking up their freezer, in December.
Yet the most cited disruption from bad weather was boilers breaking down and pipes bursting, the survey found.
Although more than a quarter (27 per cent) check the weather up to ten times a week, the same small percentage spend time preparing their winter wardrobe (27 per cent) and getting their house ready (22 per cent) for winter.
Will Lang, head of civil contingencies at the Met Office, said: “Changeable weather is a fact of life throughout the winter months as the recent heavy rainfall and flooding has shown us.
"Taking a small amount of time to prepare now can make a big difference in keeping family, friends and neighbours, as well as property and businesses safe throughout the months ahead.”
- Prepare a winter kit for your car, such as ice scraper, de-icer, torch, in-car phone charger, warm clothes and blankets
- Vehicle checks – before setting off, make sure your vehicle has adequate oil and coolant, jack, wheel brace, spare wheel, warning lights and spare keys
- Property checks – check roof for loose slates or tiles, clear guttering
- Keep your home warm – heat your home to at least 18C, to keep you warm and healthy
- Check on others – check on older neighbours and relatives during severe weather, ensuring they have plenty of food and medicine, so they don’t have to go out in really bad weather
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