The Met Office has issued a significant yellow weather warning for heavy rain, with parts of south-west England and Wales braced for a deluge equivalent to more than half a month's average December rainfall in just 24 hours.
Warning Details and Forecast Impact
The alert is active from 6pm on Monday for a 24-hour period, covering an area from the Isles of Scilly up to Gloucester and westwards to St David's in Pembrokeshire. Forecasters predict bouts of rain will turn steady and intense, with up to 40mm expected widely and a significant 60-80mm possible over higher ground like Dartmoor and parts of south Wales.
This comes as the ground is already saturated from recent wet weather. The Met Office has warned that this combination could lead to challenging travel conditions and increase the risk of flooding. As of Saturday, over a dozen flood warnings remained in place across England, with nine in Scotland and two in Wales.
Wider Weather Patterns and Disruption
The heavy rain is associated with a deepening area of low pressure moving in from the south-west later on Monday. Steven Keates, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, stated: "This system has the potential to cause disruption, and severe weather warnings are likely to be issued over the weekend as details become clearer." He urged the public to keep up-to-date with forecasts.
Strong winds have already caused issues, with gusts of up to 40mph battering the south coast overnight into Saturday. In Seaford, East Sussex, firefighters were called to secure properties after a garage roof and door were detached by the gusts.
Weekend Outlook and Further Ahead
While Saturday and Sunday are expected to be mild, they will also be blustery with further rain. Heavier showers are likely in south Wales, south-west England, and Cumbria. A further belt of rainfall is anticipated to sweep across the country in a north-easterly direction on Sunday.
The Met Office outlook for the rest of December suggests continued unsettled conditions, with more low-pressure systems expected. However, experts say it is still too early to provide a reliable forecast for the Christmas period.
