Met Office issues more weather alerts as heavy rain to continue into next week

The Met Office has issued more weather alerts as “very heavy and persistent rain” is expected to continue into next week – possibly causing a danger to life in affected areas.

Homes and businesses in parts of northern England and south-west Scotland are likely to become flooded on Sunday and Monday, the forecaster warned.

A new amber alert for rain was issued on Saturday for the south-western parts of Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway, the Lothian borders, and Strathclyde, with some areas likely to see between 110mm and 130mm of rain.

The alert begins at midnight on Sunday and will last until 23.59pm on the same day.

An amber alert for rain has also been issued for Cumbria, starting at 6am on Sunday and lasting until 6pm on Monday.

Marco Petagna, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Really, it’s a very slow moving band (of rain). That’s why we’re going to see those high rainfall totals.

“So the warnings are out quite widely across the sort of north-west of the UK, even down into Wales as well.

“Over the next few days, we’re looking at 20mm to 70mm towards the north-west of the UK, so one to three inches of rain, fairly widely.

“In those amber warning areas, we could see 200mm or more,” Mr Petagna added.

“So that’s eight inches or more – and yes, obviously, quite likely to give some flooding issues over the next few days.”

Those in the areas covered by the amber alerts for rain should avoid floodwater where possible. The forecaster said it is not safe to drive, walk or swim through floodwater.

People affected by fast-flowing or deep floodwater should call 999 and wait for help, the forecaster added.

It will be better to avoid travelling by road in some areas as conditions are expected to become “potentially dangerous” because of flooding.

The washout will likely lead to power cuts and some communities could be cut off because of flooded roads.

The Met Office advised residents in affected areas to prepare a flood kit, containing insurance and any other important documents, a torch and spare batteries, a first-aid kit and prescription medicines.

The kit should also contain supplies for looking after family members or pets, as well as warm and waterproof clothes, blankets, and food and water, the Met Office said.

“It’s not until later Monday, towards the end of Monday, before that front really clears away from the north-west of England,” Mr Petagna said.

The UK is likely to see mild temperatures of 10C to 13C over the next couple of days, which is three or four degrees above the seasonal average, Mr Petagna added.

Though it is expected the weather will settle around Tuesday next week, the respite is likely to be brief with more heavy rain set to come in from the west from Wednesday, Mr Petagna said.

“It’s going to be fairly widespread. I think much of the UK will see some wet and windy weather later in the week, again.

“But we need to keep an eye on that because there’s potential further warnings might be needed.

“There is, heading towards Christmas, a hint that things could start to quieten down. But the next week to 10 days look pretty unsettled.”