The UK is set to be lashed by wet weather and faces potential flooding misery as some areas experiences a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.
136 flood alerts have been put in place – mostly in the South – while the north has large yellow rain warnings for today before some respite on Sunday.
Downpours will be heaviest in west Scotland throughout the day, with the Met Office warning up to 70mm (2.8 inches) of rainfall could be possible over some regions.
In March, the usual UK average rainfall is 64mm, or 2.5 inches.
Following this will be lashings of showers across the country overnight, before people will wake up to clearer skies on Sunday.
The UK is set to be lashed by wet weather and faces potential flooding misery as some areas experiences a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours
136 flood alerts have been put in place, mostly in the South as well as areas of Yorkshire and on the Welsh border affected by Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge
The Met Office has placed two large yellow rain warnings for today before some respite on Sunday
There are warnings that bus and train services will probably affected with journey times taking longer due to spray and flooding on roads probably making journey times longer.
There is a possible risk that a few homes and businesses could be flooded in more vulnerable areas.
Traffic Scotland warned: ‘Outbreaks of rain will become persistent and occasionally heavy through Saturday across much of Western Scotland and parts of Southern Scotland.
’20-30mm will fall widely across the warning area in 15-18 hours with 50-70mm building up on some hills. This, in combination with a partial thaw of lying snow is likely to lead to some flooding in a few places.’
The weather reports follow two months of misery for people in the north of England, who have seen their homes flooded by three consecutive storms: Ciara, Dennis and Jorge.
An average of 202.1mm rainfall fell in February, breaking records set back in 1990, when 193.4mm fell.
People in parts of the UK have had to be evacuated from their homes as a result of the latest storm, Jorge, after the River Aire in East Yorkshire over-flowed.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that initial estimates show the industry expects to make payments of £363 million to customers who have been affected.
People in parts of the UK have had to be evacuated from their homes as a result of the latest storm, Jorge, after the River Aire in East Yorkshire over-flowed (pictured: Flooding in Goole on Humberside)
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that initial estimates show the industry expects to make payments of £363 million to customers who have been affected
More than £7.7 million in total was spent on emergency payments to get home owners and businesses back on track in the immediate aftermath of the flooding and wind damage, including paying for temporary accommodation when homes were uninhabitable.
But with the waters only beginning to recede now, the true toll of the damage is yet to be fully accounted for.
Extra rain which fell last week also affected areas of the West Midlands including Shropshire and Worcestershire along the River Severn.
The Met Office have however also warned of a risk of showers in nearby western areas, especially in south Wales and south-west England.
Rain, heavy and persistent over hills in north Wales, Cumbria and western Scotland. Windy too with coastal gales. Largely cloudy elsewhere with some bright spells to the east of high ground. Mild.
An average of 202.1mm rainfall fell in February, breaking records set back in 1990, when 193.4mm fell
More than £7.7 million in total was spent on emergency payments to get home owners and businesses back on track in the immediate aftermath of the flooding
Rain sweeping southeast to affect the rest of England, followed by blustery heavy showers across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and western England.
Rain clearing the far southeast during the morning. Elsewhere, sunny spells and blustery showers, heaviest in the west with a risk of thunder. Feeling cold in the wind.
After a dry, chilly start on Monday, wet and windy weather spreads to all parts. This clears Tuesday to leave it colder with showers, some of these heavy and wintry.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: ‘Any extra rain falling after such a wet February could cause some extra problems.
But with the waters only beginning to recede now, the true toll of the damage is yet to be fully accounted for
‘There will be more rain this weekend particularly in the west on Saturday. That rain is likely to pep up on Saturday night and its also going to turn windy during the day and night on Saturday.’
He continued: ‘Its blustery into Sunday with some sunshine but also some heavy showers.
‘Showers are likely to be heavy and blustery with the wind swinging in from the west.
‘Chiefly there’ll be rain and possibly hail at times, but it will be blustery so at least the showers will be moving through.’
Rainfall forecast for the next few days is hoped to mark the end of a difficult few weeks for people in the Midlands and Yorkshire.