The Met Office has issued two new weather warnings forecasting heavy rain across various parts of the UK on Monday. The warnings indicate a risk of flooding and travel disruption in affected areas. One warning covers eastern England from 8am on Monday until 3am on Tuesday, while the other alert spans North Wales and north-west England from 00.30am to 8pm on Monday. Rainfall amounts of 20-40mm are expected widely, with some areas in North Wales and north-west England potentially receiving 60mm and parts of eastern England facing 60-80mm.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick highlighted the likelihood of persistent heavy rain in the aforementioned regions, with North Wales expected to bear the brunt of the downpour. He noted that higher grounds in eastern England, such as Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire, may see lesser amounts of rainfall but are already saturated due to recent heavy rain. The previous day saw significant wet and windy weather conditions, with Bastreet in Cornwall receiving 26.1mm of rain and Berry Head in South Devon experiencing winds of up to 69mph.
Sunday saw the implementation of two yellow warnings for wind and rain, impacting areas already soaked by prior downpours. Southern England and South Wales were covered by a rain warning until 9am on Monday. The Environment Agency had issued 32 flood warnings and 98 flood alerts in England by Sunday evening, indicating the expected risk of flooding. Flood risk manager Mark Garratt advised against driving through floodwater as just 30cm of flowing water can float cars.
After recent heavy rain and localized flooding in England, commuters faced disruptions to road and rail services. Some counties in southern and central England have already surpassed 250% of their average September rainfall. The Environment Agency reported approximately 650 flooded properties in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and the home counties, with around 8,200 properties being protected. By Tuesday night, higher pressure is forecasted to bring drier and sunnier conditions. However, a potential low-pressure system is being monitored for the following weekend.
In response to the weather warnings and potential flooding, Environment Agency teams have been conducting checks on flood defences and clearing storm drains. They are also assisting local authorities in addressing surface water flooding. The public is advised to remain vigilant, check their flood risk status, and sign up for free flood warnings. The Met Office and relevant authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates.