Flood warnings remain despite drier conditions

Dozens of flood warnings remain in place despite the forecast for the wet weather that plagued the country on Boxing Day to ease into the weekend.

The Environment Agency has warned of the danger of rising groundwater levels as 34 flood warnings remain in place – meaning flooding is expected – along with 110 alerts, which mean flooding is possible.

Flood duty manager Clare Dinnis said parts of southern England and north Lincolnshire are most at-risk following prolonged spells of rain.

“While the weather outlook is improving, groundwater levels continue to rise after recent rainfall meaning that there is a continued risk of groundwater flooding in parts of southern England over the next few days,” Ms Dinnis said.

“We continue to monitor rainfall and river levels closely and to operate our flood defences, reducing the risk of flooding to thousands of homes and businesses and helping to keep people safe.

“Our pumps also remain in place in Somerset where our focus is on reducing levels of water on Currymoor.”

However the Met Office said that a period of high pressure was expected to come in over the weekend, bringing a dry end to the year for many.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said the weather on Friday will see a split, with Scotland and Northern Ireland facing wet and windy weather, with some gale force winds possible, and calmer conditions in England and Wales.

Grey clouds will cover much of England and Wales, with drizzle likely on hills, but temperatures will be milder than recently, with a high of 13C in the South West.

Saturday’s weather was expected to be similarly split, with drier, brighter spells for England and Wales, and rain for western Scotland.

Mr Partridge said: “After that we will generally see high pressure building at the end of the year for much of the UK, and a spell of dry weather, with temperatures near or above average.”