UK Alert: Heavy Rainfall Predicted, Flooding Risks

September 07, 2024
Heavy Rainfall Predicted in UK
  • Met Office says band of ‘heavy and thundery rain’ to sweep north through southern and central England and Wales

This weekend, there will be a lot of rain in the UK, with many areas at risk of flooding.

According to the Met Office, a fresh band of "heavy and thundery rain" is expected to hit the south coast on Saturday and continue northward over the course of the night, affecting central and southern England as well as Wales.

The forecaster stated that although there were no weather warnings in effect on Saturday morning, there may be more given the number that were issued earlier this week.

Earlier heavy rain lashed southern England and Wales on Thursday and Friday.

As of Saturday morning, one flood warning remained in place in Ilston, south Wales, with two flood alerts also issued in the region.

The Environment Agency still had two flood alerts in place in south-west England, including in populated areas around the Lower Avon River.

It added that much of southern and central England was at low risk of flooding affecting properties and causing travel disruption.

The Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris said: “Reminiscent of this time last week, the forecast for later this weekend comes with larger uncertainties than average.

“This is due to a more complex than usual meteorological pattern involving multiple corridors of heavy, locally thundery rain revolving around a slow-moving area of low pressure.

“We are keeping warnings under review, and will look to issue them over the weekend as confidence increases, so please keep up to date with our latest forecasts and warnings.”

An initial band of cloud and patchy rain will scatter across England and Wales on Saturday before a further band of heavy and thundery rain arrives in the far south later in the day, the Met Office said.

Lengthy sunny and dry spells are still expected farther north in a continuation of recent days, but conditions will be turning cloudier and more mild.

The showers will continue to move northwards into Sunday, when spells of heavy rain will affect many central and southern areas.

Cooler, fresher temperatures are widely expected across the country into next week with a generally unsettled outlook, the forecaster added.