Rainy weather hits Bristol
By Andre Rhoden-Paul, and BBC Weather presenter Helen Willetts
BBC News
Flood warnings are in place as heavy rain and strong winds lash the UK.
Yellow weather warnings for rain cover the Midlands, southern England, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and south Wales.
Flooding is being reported on many roads already, with dozens of flood alerts issued.
A yellow weather warning for wind in East Anglia, central southern and south-east England has also been issued with gusts up to 60 or 70mph expected.
More rain is falling on ground which is already water-logged, with another 10 to 20mm likely to fall through today.
Drivers are being warned of hazardous conditions as large puddles and spray affect roads.
And flooding has already disrupted Great Western Railway (GWR) services near Totnes, Devon, with limited services between Plymouth and Exeter St David’s.
The Met Office said flooding of homes and businesses was also possible, along with disruption to bus and further rail services.
The number of flood warnings – when flooding is expected – is likely to rise from 46 in England and in south Wales.
As well as wet weather, which is being driven by a deep area of low pressure crossing northern France, there will be a spell of gale to severe gale-force winds. Near the coasts, gusts may reach up to 60 or 70mph.
The Met Office said there was a slight chance of power cuts and some damage to buildings.
Yellow weather warnings are in place in:
- south Wales and south-west England for rain until 14:00, with some places seeing 10-15mm of rain within two hours and a few seeing 20-30mm during the period of the warning
- the Midlands, East Anglia, Lincolnshire, London and south-east and south-west England for rain until 18:00, with heavy rain at times
- East Anglia, London, central southern and south-east England for wind until 18:00
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/ Krystal Sky Watcher
Commuters shelter under hoods in Croydon
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/ flashgun
A road floods in New Inn, south Wales
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain
A yellow weather warning for wind has also been issued for East Anglia, south-east and central southern England
