Heavy Rain and Flood Warnings Have Been Issued, With ‘Atrocious’ Weather Conditions Predicted for the Next Three Days

The Met Office has issued three yellow rain warnings for Wednesday through Friday, but even those who live outside of the affected areas are facing "pretty atrocious conditions."

UK is facing "atrocious" weather conditions

(Photo : DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Heavy rains are expected to fall in Cornwall and Devon on Wednesday afternoon, then move northeast across England and Wales before reaching Scotland's east coast on Friday, as per Independent.

Up to 40mm of rain could fall in the South East on Wednesday, according to the first yellow warning, which is in effect from 5 p.m. on Wednesday until 6 a.m. on Thursday and extends eastward from Southampton and the Isle of Wight in Hampshire to Kent.

From Birmingham, Lincoln, and Hull to north Wales, Liverpool, and Manchester, and all the way to the Scottish border, a second yellow warning has been issued for 24 hours beginning at midnight on Thursday.

The third warning is in effect ahead of a two-day period of "persistent" rainfall expected along Scotland's east coast, from the English border to beyond Aberdeen, from 3 p.m. on Thursday to 6 p.m. on Friday.

The Met Office predicted that up to 70mm of rain could fall over high ground, with up to 100mm possible across the hills of Angus and Aberdeenshire.

Strong winds are expected to batter coastlines, while deluges will increase the risk of flooding.

And the "miserable" conditions could be exacerbated by temperatures returning to their November average, making frost more likely.

Western Britain is likely to bear the brunt of the icy weather, but sub-zero temperatures forecast for Friday night mean frost will be more widespread.

According to Craig Snell, a Met Office spokesperson, "the warning areas are where we are most concerned about the risk of flooding - but that doesn't mean the areas outside of them aren't going to see some pretty atrocious conditions."

People in the south will have a miserable evening on Wednesday, while Londoners will have an "unpleasant commute home."

Mr. Snell added that the Midlands and north of England will face "pretty miserable" conditions on Thursday as rain sweeps in overnight.

Read more: Heatwave to Hit the UK in April and Climate Change is to Blame: Met Office Forecast

Increased flood risk

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency (EA) issued 14 flood warnings in England as of Wednesday night, urging people to "act now" because water levels are rapidly rising, as per Sky News.

More than a month's worth of rain, 47mm, has been recorded in the village of Iping near Chichester, West Sussex, in the last 36 hours, with up to 30mm more expected between Wednesday afternoon and the early hours of Thursday.

A total of 95 flood warnings have been issued throughout the country, including the south coast, the central and northern regions.

Local flooding from rivers and surface water is "probable" in southeast England on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the EA, and "possible" in London and the South East.

Scotland is under three flood warnings and eight alerts.

Motorists will face difficult road conditions, making it "vital" to slow down and take extra precautions, according to Rod Dennis, a spokesman for the RAC breakdown service.

The chances of being involved in a collision increase dramatically in wet weather, and even more so in snow, so drivers must slow down, leave plenty of space behind the vehicle in front, and use their lights to ensure they are easily seen by other road users, according to him.

The risk of aquaplaning, which occurs when a vehicle's wheels lose contact with the road as it skims across standing water, will be high, especially for those who do not slow down to appropriate speeds for the conditions, according to Mr Dennis.

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