Urgent rain warning issued as 18-hour downpour to spark travel chaos across UK

24 February 2024 , 10:52

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A new yellow weather warning has just been issued (Image: PA)

The Met Office has issued an urgent yellow weather warning for rain with 18 hours of downpours expected.

Forecasters said persistent rain could lead to flooding and disruption across parts of southern England, starting from Sunday afternoon. Severe weather conditions are expected to continue until Monday morning, the Met Office said.

According to the latest warning, which is in force across Sussex and Kent from 3pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday, 15 to 25mm rainfall is likely widely but some places could also see 40mm of rain. Since the ground is "already saturated", this may lead to flooding and disruption, the Met Office said.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for rain across southern England (Met Office)

A separate warning has also been issued across southwest England (Met Office)

Residents have also been warned of the risk on spray which could lead to difficult driving conditions. Forecasters also said some communities could become cut off by flooded roads.

Brits have been warned to prepare a flood plan and an emergency flood kit, gathering all essential items including clothes, a portable phone charger, as well as torch and batteries. The warning reads: "Rain is expected to arrive across Sussex and Kent during Sunday afternoon, persisting through the night before slowly clearing on Monday morning. 15 to 25 mm rainfall is likely widely, perhaps with as much as 40 mm in a few places. With the ground already saturated this may lead to some flooding and disruption."

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Driving conditions could be difficult due to heavy rain, the Met Office said (PA)

The Met Office also issued another warning across parts of southwest England. It is in force from 6am until 6pm on Sunday. Locals have been warned of the risk of flooding and disruption to bus and train journeys due to heavy rainfall. In this area, 15 to 25mm rainfall is likely but in some parts there could be up to 40mm of rain, the Met Office added.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency issued 57 flood warnings and 192 flood alerts across England. Natural Resource Wales also issued one flood warning and six flood alerts.

The Met Office's forecast for this weekend says: "A mix of sunny spells and showers, although many of the showers fading away as we move into the afternoon. Temperatures around average for late February with mainly light winds.

"A cold start to Saturday, with some frost and patchy mist and fog in places. A few showers around, otherwise largely dry and bright. Breezy in the far southwest, light winds elsewhere."

For Sunday and the beginning of next week, it adds: "A band of rain likely to move across southern areas during Sunday, with northern areas likely dry. Many places dry on Monday before rain returns to the north during Tuesday."

Chiara Fiorillo