Yellow weather warnings issued for two major areas as heavy rain and cold to blast UK
The has issued multiple weather warnings as a stormy system threatens to smash the UK with heavy rain.
The forecasters have told Britons to anticipate "areas of heavy rain" today, with bands descending on the country in a matter of hours to cause potential flooding and power cuts. The warning, in line with the latest trends, expects an overnight deluge that could at some points prompt "isolated thunderstorms".
The turn from summer to autumn has seen lingering humidity prompt soggy conditions in some parts of the country, with rain and flooding causing misery as temperatures dip. The latest warnings come as forecasters expect the mercury to warm up, presenting a bitter double-edged sword for those longing for the return of summery highs.
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The said in its yellow alert that rain will develop in southwest England today before becoming heavier and moving north. The agency states: "Areas of heavy rain are expected to develop and push north across the warning area. Rain will develop in southwest England late afternoon, before becoming heavier and expanding north on Tuesday evening and overnight into Wednesday.
"Many places will see around 10 to 20mm (0.3 to 0.7 inches) of rain, but there is a chance some locations may see considerably more than this over a six hour period, most likely parts of southwest England and south Wales. A few places may see 50 to 80mm (two to 3.14 inches) of rain fall in six hours. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible in the south of the warning area, with lightning an additional hazard."
The initial warning lasts from 6pm today to 12pm on Wednesday, and precedes a second, overlapping yellow alert that signals the same conditions coming to Northern Ireland. The second warning, which activates at 12am on Wednesday, lasts for just six hours until 6am, but will bring similar rainfall totals and risks to the home nation.
The second warning states: "Rain is expected to push north across much of Northern Ireland during Tuesday evening and overnight, clearing from the south on Wednesday morning. The heaviest rain is likely to be across southeastern areas, where 20 to 30mm (0.7 to 1.1 inches) is likely widely. Some high ground of South Armagh and South Down, and particularly the Mournes, could see 50 to 80mm."
Tuesday's alert warns there is a "slight chance" of power cuts, while both warn that heavy rain could cause flooding and possible building damage. They add that people making journeys on either day may find they take longer due to spray, flooding and other effects of the rain.