The Met Office has issued a weather alert for 23 regions as a significant portion of the nation prepares for intense rainfall.
A yellow rain warning encompassing a large area including London, South East England, and South West England will be in effect on Thursday from 9 am until the end of the day. This warning comes as a deepening low-pressure system moves northeastward across England and Wales, bringing continuous and heavy rain throughout the day before tapering off in the evening, as per the forecast.
Anticipated rainfall amounts range from 20mm to 30mm across widespread areas, with some regions likely to experience this volume within a few hours. Certain isolated spots could even see 40mm to 50mm of precipitation. The Met Office cautions that heavy rain on already saturated ground may result in surface water flooding on Thursday. Expect potential disruptions to bus and train services, as well as extended journey times due to water spray and road flooding.
Individuals are advised to assess the risk of flooding to their properties and, if necessary, develop a flood plan and assemble an emergency flood kit. Additionally, the Met Office recommends preparing for potential power outages by gathering essentials such as torches, a mobile phone power pack, and other critical items.
As of now, the rain warning stands as the sole advisory from the Met Office for Thursday. Meanwhile, a yellow ice warning remains active in much of Scotland until 10 am today. The weather agency characterizes the day as initially bright yet cold for most regions, except for a few wintry showers in the northern areas. Rain is expected to move in later, intensifying by nightfall and possibly turning into snow at lower elevations in the north. Following this, clear intervals and showers are predicted from the west.
The Thursday forecast states: “A combination of sunshine and showers in the northern regions. Towards the south, cloud cover and rain, occasionally heavy, will gradually advance northward, with winds picking up later in the southeast.”