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Met Office issues rare amber warning with ‘danger to life’ alert as Brits told to brace for heavy rain and floods

Editor4

The Met Office has several weather warnings in place, including many for rain which will be heaviest across Northwest England and north Wales on Wednesday afternoon

A rare amber weather warning for rain with a “danger to life” alert has been issued.

The Met Office says up to six inches of rain could fall today in some areas – that is twice the average rainfall for a typical May – and so Brits should travel with caution.

Disruption is expected in Northwest England and north Wales, including for Liverpool and Manchester, the service says. The amber weather warning, which is rarely issued, starts at noon today and will remain in place until noon on Thursday – a chaotic 24-hour period for our weather.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Rain becoming heavy and persistent during Wednesday afternoon before easing during Thursday morning. The heaviest rain is expected over north facing hills and where strong winds will enhance rainfall accumulations. Many places within the warning area will see 30-40mm of rain, with high ground of northwest England seeing 70-90 mm. While mountains of north Wales may see 100-150mm or more.”

Most of the country is subject to at least one weather warning today, the Met Office map shows

Power cuts, disruption to travel and flooding is likely, particularly across Northwest England and north Wales. The amber warning also covers parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire, and is some contrast to Tuesday when temperatures exceeded 20C in Blackpool, Lancashire.

It was even hotter in the Scottish Highlands but the mercury will drop today and struggle for the rest of the week, forecasters say. A yellow warning for rain is in place for the north of England, the Midlands and north and mid Wales until 6am on Thursday, with the southern edges of the affected area extended to run roughly from around Norwich to Bath.

Another yellow rain warning comes into place at noon on Wednesday for Scotland, covering the south and east of the country, which runs until 6pm on Thursday.

The Met Office advises Brits, especially those in the amber areas, to keep themselves and others safe, and prepare to avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous road conditions. If Brits must travel, ensure they watch for possible danger and drive cautiously.

It is not safe to drive, walk or swim through floodwater, avoid it where possible and if you are affected by fast flowing or deep-water call 999, and wait for help.

Alex Burkill, who is a meteorologist with the service, said: “Some areas are really going to see a lot of heavy, persistent rain through a big chunk of Wednesday. It is going to be a pretty wet picture as we go through the rest of the week for many places. There is some uncertainty as to exactly where we are going to see the heaviest rain and where is most likely to be impacted.”

There is one major flood warning in place for today already, in addition to dozens of less severe flood alerts. The biggest concern is for Gog Brook in Warwick, although the Midlands is not subject to the amber warning. The Environment Agency says rain is forecast in the area for the whole day and so river levels are rising at the Warwick Old Budbrooke Road gauge. Consequently, flooding of roads and properties is possible today. The agency expects flooding to affect properties in the south of Warwick, through which River Avon runs.

Despite the miserable picture this week, bank holiday Monday is expected to be dry and fine for much of the country, feeling warm in the sunshine, although there remains the threat of showers ahead of more settled conditions.

Regions and local authorities affected by the amber warning:

East Midlands

North West England

Wales

Yorkshire & Humber

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