Stormy end to 2023 as Brits to be lashed by more rain amid flooding chaos

30 December 2023 , 05:30

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Yellow warnings for wind, rain and snow are in place (Image: Getty Images)

Brits are set to be hit by huge 75mph gusts and rain this morning, with several yellow warnings in place around the UK.

The recent patch of unsettled weather is due to continue this weekend thanks to an area of low pressure pushing in from the west of the country. It will impact millions of Brits throughout the day, with some warned by the Met Office to expect snow, while others have been told to expect rain and wind as the day goes on. It comes as Brits planning New Year's Eve celebrations were earlier urged to travel earlier than usual to avoid weather chaos. Conditions across many parts of the UK could feel close to freezing as the clock strikes midnight on Sunday.

The warnings for this low-pressure system include: a wind warning covering most of Wales and a large part of southern England; rain warnings for Northern Ireland and Wales; and a series of combined rain and snow warnings covering most of Scotland.

Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said: “Parts of the higher ground of Scotland may see temporary snow accumulations of 5-10cm, while up to 25mm of rain is expected in Wales, Northern Ireland and lower levels in Scotland. Across Wales and southern England wind gusts of 45-50mph are likely to be quite widespread, while gusts of 65-75mph are possible in the most exposed coastal areas.”

The low pressure system will initially affect Ireland and western parts of the UK this morning. As the system moves eastwards, the boundary between the area of low pressure and the relatively colder conditions further north and east will lead to a band of snow across some of the high ground of northern England and Scotland.

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

Rain warnings are in place (Yorkshire Post / SWNS)

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “The Environment Agency is monitoring closely and has teams out on the ground undertaking preparatory activity to minimise the impacts of flooding where possible. At this time of year, with people out walking over the festive and New Year period, it’s particularly important to take care near riverbanks.

"If you are planning on travelling, please check the weather conditions ahead of your journey, and we urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.”

Regions and local authorities affected by rain and snow:

Central, Tayside & Fife

• Angus

• Clackmannanshire

• Dundee

• Fife

• Perth and Kinross

• Stirling

Grampian

Tips to stop windscreen freezing and prevent blades from sticking to window

• Aberdeen

• Aberdeenshire

• Moray

Highlands & Eilean Siar

• Eilean Siar

• Highland

Strathclyde

• Argyll and Bute

• East Dunbartonshire

• Inverclyde

• North Ayrshire

• Renfrewshire

• West Dunbartonshire

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

• Dumfries and Galloway

• East Lothian

• Midlothian Council

• Scottish Borders

Strathclyde

• East Ayrshire

• South Ayrshire

• South Lanarkshire

Regions and local authorities affected by ice

Highlands & Eilean Siar

• Eilean Siar

• Highland

Regions and local authorities affected by rain

Northern Ireland

• County Antrim

• County Armagh

• County Down

• County Fermanagh

• County Londonderry

• County Tyrone

Wales

• Blaenau Gwent

• Bridgend

• Caerphilly

• Cardiff

• Carmarthenshire

• Ceredigion

• Conwy

• Gwynedd

• Isle of Anglesey

• Merthyr Tydfil

• Monmouthshire

• Neath Port Talbot

• Newport

• Pembrokeshire

• Powys

• Rhondda Cynon Taf

• Swansea

• Torfaen

• Vale of Glamorgan

Regions and local authorities affected by wind

East of England

• Essex

• Norfolk

• Southend-on-Sea

• Suffolk

• Thurrock

London & South East England

• Brighton and Hove

• East Sussex

• Greater London

• Hampshire

• Isle of Wight

• Kent

• Medway

• Portsmouth

• Southampton

• Surrey

• West Sussex

South West England

• Bath and North East Somerset

• Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole

• Bristol

• Cornwall

• Devon

• Dorset

• Gloucestershire

• Isles of Scilly

• North Somerset

• Plymouth

• Somerset

• South Gloucestershire

• Torbay

• Wiltshire

Wales

• Blaenau Gwent

• Bridgend

• Caerphilly

• Cardiff

• Carmarthenshire

• Ceredigion

• Conwy

• Gwynedd

• Isle of Anglesey

• Merthyr Tydfil

• Monmouthshire

• Neath Port Talbot

• Newport

• Pembrokeshire

• Powys

• Rhondda Cynon Taf

• Swansea

• Torfaen

• Vale of Glamorgan

Antony Clements-Thrower