UK weather forecast: Warnings over 70mph gales as Britain braced for 'two weeks' worth of rain in one day'

Tim Baker17 December 2019

Forecasters have warned of 70mph gales hitting the UK as Britain braces for up to two weeks' worth of rain to fall in just one day.

Nine yellow weather warnings for rain, wind and ice have been issued by the Met Office running up until Saturday.

Temperatures are set to plunge across the UK on Tuesday, with areas that saw rain during the day facing a freeze overnight.

Vast swathes of the Midlands have been included in a yellow warning for ice until 10am on Wednesday.

London looks likely to escape the worst of the weather, with cold temperatures throughout the week making way for an unseasonably mild weekend before Christmas.

Matt Hancock enjoyed the weather as he headed into the first Cabinet of the new Government
Getty Images

Simon Partridge, a meteorologist at the Met Office, told the Standard: “The rain we’ve seen in the south east will clear away this evening. The areas that saw rain will get icy later on.”

Overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday most of country the country will see fog, with temperatures dropping to as low as -5C in England and -8C in Scotland.

However, London is due to remain milder, with the mercury staying in the positive, Mr Partridge said.

As Wednesday moves on it is expected to get wetter across the UK.

A rainbow over Weymouth, Dorset, last weekend. The Southwest is set to face rains and winds this week
PA

Gale force winds are also forecast, especially in the west of the country, with a yellow weather warning predicting winds as fast as 70mph - which may cause disruption to transport links.

This weather front brings with it milder temperatures but also more rain, with a warning in place for the south west of England on Wednesday evening predicting up to 60mm of water to fall in as little as six hours.

Overnight the rain will push east, turning more showery as it moves across the country.

UK Snow: December 2019

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However, weather warnings for rain are in place for the south east of England during Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Mr Partridge added: “The weather will be unsettled heading into the end of the week. On Friday temperatures could reach 12 or 13C - three degrees higher than average.

“This mild weather is blowing up from the south, alongside the earlier gales.

“It will remain unsettled over the weekend and into next week.

“We won’t see any more snow this week or next - it will likely stay unsettled.”

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