Floods and heavy rains forecast for several parts of Britain
Weather warnings remain in place for several parts of Britain amid heavy rains which threaten flooding and travel disruptions across the weekend.
The Met Office has issued five yellow warnings for rainfall in mostly western areas from Scotland south to Plymouth, with a more serious amber warning current for south Wales.
That warning says heavy rain will continue for much of Saturday, with up to almost three inches of rain (70mm) expected widely within the area concerned, which covers south Wales from Pontypool in the east to Haverfordwest near the west coast.
High ground and upslopes in the south and south-west of the amber zone will receive far more rain, with six inches (150mm) expected “quite widely”, and almost eight inches (200mm) possible at the highest ground, the Met Office says.
Saturday will be mild but with further wind and #rain in the north and west where we have multiple rain warnings in force ⚠️
Drier, brighter and milder in many eastern areas
Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/fAjMRZR5M2
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 19, 2021
“As well as heavy rain, strong to gale force southerly winds will be an additional hazard through Saturday,” the warning says. It is current until 6pm.
There is a “good chance” some communities in the region will be cut off by flooded roads, while power cuts and delays and cancellations to train and bus services are likely.
Natural Resources Wales had issued 37 flood alerts and 11 flood warning on Friday evening, while the Environment Agency issued six flood warnings and 93 flood alerts for England.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued 32 flood warnings and nine flood alerts.
Yellow weather warnings are also in place across large parts of west and south Wales, parts of west, south-west and central Scotland from Friday until Sunday, parts of Devon and Cornwall from Friday to Saturday and parts of Cumbria on Saturday.
Met Office weather forecaster Marco Petagna said the east of the country would have a much quieter weekend with mild temperatures up to 16C in the South East, but with light and patchy rain on Sunday.
⚠️⚠️ Amber and Yellow weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️
Heavy rain across Wales 🌧️
Yellow Valid until 0200 SundayAmber Valid 2000 Friday until 1800 Saturday
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/OOEEyG2Egx
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 19, 2021
However, he warned that after a brief break in the rain, there was more wet weather due next week.
“There’s more rain to come going into next week,” he said.
“There will be some respite Sunday and Monday but going into Tuesday there’s some more rainfall.
“Again the west and north-west could see further rain developing.”