UK weather latest: Flood warnings across country as heavy rain continues after days of wet weather

Tim Baker27 November 2019

A deluge of heavy rain is expected across the UK over the next 24 hours, with flood warnings across the country after days of wet weather.

There are 25 flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - and a further 118 flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible - across England and Wales, according to the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.

It comes after more than half a month's worth of rain fell in just one day across parts of the UK.

A total of 32.2mm (1.27in) of rain pummelled the parish of Wattisham near Stowmarket in Suffolk in the 24 hours to 6am on Wednesday, the Met Office said - the highest volume of rainfall anywhere in the UK during that time.

The average November rainfall for the region is 60mm (2.36in).

UK Wet Weather: September/October 2019 - In pictures

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Whitchurch in Cardiff recorded the second highest level of rainfall, with 30.6mm (1.2in) falling in 24 hours, although this represented around one fifth of the average November deluge for the area.

Craibstone in Aberdeenshire received 25mm (0.99in) of rainfall, while Kent saw 21.6mm (0.85in).

The Met Office said there was the prospect of further heavy rainfall across pockets of the UK on Wednesday, with yellow weather warnings in place for the south west of England and south Wales until midday, and for Yorkshire until 6am on Thursday.

The wet weather and winds have been triggered by storm Sebastien, which was named by the National Hurricane Centre, although it was only classified as a tropical storm.

It was birthed near the Azores, around 1,000 miles west of Portugal in the mid-Atlantic.

Flooding near Lincoln, Lincolnshire earlier this month
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

NASA satellites have seen winds blowing consistently at around 60mph, with more powerful gusts also spotted.

After the tail end of Sebastien passes by on Thursday evening, freezing air pulled down from Scandinavia will blanket the country.

The weekend is expected to be dry but chilly and freezing temperatures predicted across the UK.

Helen Roberts, a Meteorologist from the Met Office, said: “We have a number of weather warnings in place.

“There’s going to be persistent rains in the north east and Yorkshire, and showers across the southwest.

“The area of low pressure bringing rain to the northeast will then pull down cold northerly air.

“Over the weekend we can expect a lot of dry weather, with parts of the south west seeing rain on Saturday.

“Temperatures will be down into the single digits, and it is likely that we will get frosts and freezing fogs, but no snow except for the tops of the Scottish mountains.”

It comes as police continue work to identify a body found on a road affected by recent floods.

South Yorkshire Police said the man's remains were found on Fordstead Lane near Barnby Dun, in the Doncaster area, on Saturday.

The road, between Barnby Dun and Arksey, was underwater for a fortnight after the River Don burst its banks earlier this month, inundating much of the surrounding area.

Officers were unable to say how long the body had been in the location.

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