Waves crash over the promenade during rain and strong winds in Folkestone, Kent. PA
Waves crash over the promenade during rain and strong winds in Folkestone, Kent. PA
Waves crash over the promenade during rain and strong winds in Folkestone, Kent. PA
Waves crash over the promenade during rain and strong winds in Folkestone, Kent. PA

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UK weather: 'Persistent heavy rain’ and 80kph winds set to sweep country

Some homes and businesses could be flooded in the coming days

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

January 10, 2023

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The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for parts of the UK, with heavy rain and winds of up to 80kph forecast to sweep the country.

Three yellow warnings for “persistent heavy rain” were issued for Wales, western England and south-west Scotland on Tuesday evening, while a yellow warning for “strong winds” was issued for the northern isles overnight.

Two yellow rain warnings — one stretching from Cardiff to Bangor and another covering Lancashire and southern Cumbria — will remain in place until 8pm on Tuesday.

A third yellow warning for rain covers south-western and central Scotland, including Glasgow and Stirling until 7pm on Tuesday.

The Met Office has said “some disruption” is expected in these areas, including “flooding of a few homes and businesses”, “spray” on the roads, increased journey times on public transport and “possible” power cuts.

A yellow wind warning over the islands north of Scotland also indicates likely disruption to public transport and that “some coastal communities will be affected by spray and large waves”, according to the national forecaster.

The warning comes into force from 6pm on Tuesday until 10am on Wednesday, with wind speeds predicted to reach up to 80kph within the first few hours of this window.

Heavy rain causes flooding in parts of the UK — in pictures

A car negotiates a flooded section of road in London, as torrential rain and thunderstorms hit many parts of the UK. Getty Images
A car negotiates a flooded section of road in London, as torrential rain and thunderstorms hit many parts of the UK. Getty Images
Pedestrians get soaked crossing London Bridge in the capital. Britain's Met Office issued multiple flood warnings. EPA
Pedestrians get soaked crossing London Bridge in the capital. Britain's Met Office issued multiple flood warnings. EPA
Sheltering from the rain at the seafront in Seaford, East Sussex, on England's south coast. Britain had been suffering a heatwave, with drought declared for parts of the country. Getty
Sheltering from the rain at the seafront in Seaford, East Sussex, on England's south coast. Britain had been suffering a heatwave, with drought declared for parts of the country. Getty
A pedestrian is caught in the open in London during the downpour. The Met Office issued yellow thunderstorm warning forecasts for parts of England and Wales. PA
A pedestrian is caught in the open in London during the downpour. The Met Office issued yellow thunderstorm warning forecasts for parts of England and Wales. PA
A pedestrian tries to keep dry crossing the road in a very wet London. Getty
A pedestrian tries to keep dry crossing the road in a very wet London. Getty
Pedestrians shelter from torrential rain at the entrance to Blackhorse Road London Underground station, in north-east London. Getty
Pedestrians shelter from torrential rain at the entrance to Blackhorse Road London Underground station, in north-east London. Getty
A fire engine negotiates a flooded section of road in London. Getty
A fire engine negotiates a flooded section of road in London. Getty
A car sends floodwater spraying in its wake in London. The rain eased later in the week. Getty
A car sends floodwater spraying in its wake in London. The rain eased later in the week. Getty
The gym at the Houses of Parliament in central London is flooded after torrential rain hit the capital. PA
The gym at the Houses of Parliament in central London is flooded after torrential rain hit the capital. PA
Pedestrians brave the downpour to cross Millennium Bridge in London, with St Paul's Cathedral almost obscured by the rain. PA
Pedestrians brave the downpour to cross Millennium Bridge in London, with St Paul's Cathedral almost obscured by the rain. PA
Parts of Clapham Common, in south London, are flooded by the downpour, while areas of parched grass bear testimony to the recent drought. Reuters
Parts of Clapham Common, in south London, are flooded by the downpour, while areas of parched grass bear testimony to the recent drought. Reuters
Pedestrians find a dry path in London. AP
Pedestrians find a dry path in London. AP
Covers protect the wicket during the Royal London Cup match between Essex Eagles and Yorkshire Vikings at Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford, south-east England. Getty
Covers protect the wicket during the Royal London Cup match between Essex Eagles and Yorkshire Vikings at Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford, south-east England. Getty

More wet and windy weather is also on the way for south Wales and south-west England, with a yellow rain warning covering these regions for 20 hours from 9pm on Wednesday.

The Met Office said that the hamlet of Seathwaite in Cumbria has experienced the most rain so far, with 73mm recorded as of 3.30pm, followed by Capel Curig in Gwynedd, Wales, which was hit by 44mm in the same period.

More than 160 flood warnings have also been issued across Britain by environment regulators, because saturated ground caused by recent wet weather means that even areas that avoid the worst of this week’s deluge could be at risk of flooding.

The Environment Agency, which covers England, has issued 28 warnings, mostly clustered in Dorset where flooding is “expected”, along with 97 alerts across the country, where flooding is “possible”.

Staff from the agency have been erecting flood barriers at several of the most at-risk scenes, including in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley, which has previously experienced flooding from the River Severn.

Weather warnings issued in the UK — in pictures

Waves crash on to the seafront in Blackpool. Storm Dudley hit the north of England and southern Scotland from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. PA
Waves crash on to the seafront in Blackpool. Storm Dudley hit the north of England and southern Scotland from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. PA
A fallen tree on the road in Ross-on-Wye, near England's border with Wales, during Storm Dudley. PA
A fallen tree on the road in Ross-on-Wye, near England's border with Wales, during Storm Dudley. PA
Big waves hit the sea wall at Whitby in Yorkshire. Storm Eunice was expected to bring strong winds and the possibility of snow on Friday. PA
Big waves hit the sea wall at Whitby in Yorkshire. Storm Eunice was expected to bring strong winds and the possibility of snow on Friday. PA
An empty departure board at Glasgow Central Station before Storm Dudley hits. PA
An empty departure board at Glasgow Central Station before Storm Dudley hits. PA
A man struggles against strong wind in Clontarf, Dublin, as Storm Dudley makes its way over Ireland. PA
A man struggles against strong wind in Clontarf, Dublin, as Storm Dudley makes its way over Ireland. PA
Weather warnings on a ticket machine at Glasgow Central Station. PA
Weather warnings on a ticket machine at Glasgow Central Station. PA
People take advantage of the winds and fly Kites on Scarborough beach in North Yorkshire. PA
People take advantage of the winds and fly Kites on Scarborough beach in North Yorkshire. PA

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Wales has issued 34 “flood alerts” across the same areas covered by the Met Office warnings, and one more serious “flood warning” for properties near the River Vyrnwy on the border with Shropshire.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued six flood alerts across south-west Scotland, covering Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Central Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders and West Central Scotland.

RAC Breakdown has advised motorists to “be on their guard” during the wet weather by driving slowly and leaving a large space between their vehicle and those ahead.

“Rain now appears to be a constant feature of January’s weather, so we urge drivers to be on their guard,” said Rod Dennis, a spokesman for the vehicle repair and insurance company.

“The dangers of driving in freezing conditions are well known, but it’s easy to underestimate the risk that rain, especially heavy downpours, presents.

“It’s vital people slow down, leave a much larger space between their vehicle and the one in front, and avoid driving through standing water.

“Anyone driving through even very shallow water at speed risks losing control of their vehicle in what is known as aquaplaning, something which drastically increases the chances of an accident.”

Snow blankets the UK — in pictures

Snow has fallen across the UK. Trees and boats blanketed in Little Venice, London. AP
Snow has fallen across the UK. Trees and boats blanketed in Little Venice, London. AP
Marine Park in South Shields, north-east England. PA
Marine Park in South Shields, north-east England. PA
A car stranded on the hard shoulder of the M25 motorway near Epping. Bloomberg
A car stranded on the hard shoulder of the M25 motorway near Epping. Bloomberg
A frozen lake in Richmond Park, south west London. AFP
A frozen lake in Richmond Park, south west London. AFP
The Angel of the North in Gateshead. PA
The Angel of the North in Gateshead. PA
Mjukuu the gorilla snacks on a snowman's broccoli hair at London Zoo. PA
Mjukuu the gorilla snacks on a snowman's broccoli hair at London Zoo. PA
A car abandoned after crashing on a roundabout in Ashford, Kent. PA
A car abandoned after crashing on a roundabout in Ashford, Kent. PA
Snow outside the Churchill Arms pub in west London. AP
Snow outside the Churchill Arms pub in west London. AP
St Nicholas' Park in Warwick. AP
St Nicholas' Park in Warwick. AP
A tractor clears snow from the runways at Manchester Airport. Reuters
A tractor clears snow from the runways at Manchester Airport. Reuters
Hownsgill Viaduct in Durham. AP
Hownsgill Viaduct in Durham. AP
The town of Consett in County Durham. AP
The town of Consett in County Durham. AP
A frosty morning at Primrose Hill in north London. AFP
A frosty morning at Primrose Hill in north London. AFP
More freezing weather at Primrose Hill. AFP
More freezing weather at Primrose Hill. AFP
Camden, north London. AP
Camden, north London. AP
Cold temperatures, freezing fog and wintry showers are expected throughout the week. AP
Cold temperatures, freezing fog and wintry showers are expected throughout the week. AP
A park in south London. AP
A park in south London. AP
The snow forced airports to close and left drivers struggling to get through. AP
The snow forced airports to close and left drivers struggling to get through. AP

For those worried about damage to their home, the National Flood Forum recommends finding out how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies, and keeping a list of useful contacts including for your GP and insurance company.

The charity also advises taking detailed photographs of your property before a flood occurs as evidence for any insurance claims, and in the event of a flood, checking on neighbours who could be elderly, disabled or have young children.

Forbes Advisor, a price comparison and financial guidance platform, advises checking gutters and drains are clear of obstructions so that any excess water can escape.

It also recommends assessing garden trees for any branches which could fall in windy weather and keeping an eye on official flood warnings for your area.

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Updated: January 11, 2023, 5:50 AM
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