The Met Office has issued a significant yellow weather warning for rain, forecasting a prolonged 13-hour deluge set to sweep across the Midlands and other parts of England this Thursday.
Warning Details and Forecast Impact
The alert is active from 9am until 10pm on Thursday, January 15. Weather experts anticipate outbreaks of rain will spread northeast, becoming persistent and heavy at times before clearing overnight. Widespread accumulations of 20-30mm are expected, with the potential for 40-50mm in isolated spots, particularly in parts of southern England.
Given the already saturated ground, the Met Office warns this could lead to surface water flooding. There is a risk of flooding to some homes and businesses, and public transport services may face delays or cancellations due to the conditions.
Regions and Local Authorities Under Warning
The yellow warning for rain covers a large swathe of the country. The affected regions and their local authorities include:
- East Midlands: Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland.
- East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Suffolk.
- London & South East England: Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham.
- South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Torbay, Wiltshire.
- West Midlands: Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire.
Further Hazards and Public Advice
The heavy rain will be accompanied by strengthening winds through Thursday afternoon and evening. The Met Office notes that gusts around 50mph may be possible along some exposed coasts in southern and southeast England.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay updated on the latest forecasts and travel information. They should prepare for potential travel disruption and consider taking steps to protect property from possible floodwater. The public should also avoid driving through flood water and heed any local authority advice issued during the period of severe weather.
