11 March 2024 , 08:42
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Brits are braced for flooding this week following a weekend washout - and more rain expected in the coming days.
Downpours lashed the UK on Sunday, the heaviest of which were occurred in the Midlands - more than 21mm of rain fell in Warwickshire in just a few hours. Heavy rain is forecast throughout this week too, the Met Office says. Writing on its website, the service says of the weather ahead: "Heavy rain will (tonight) move into western areas later in the night with brisk winds. Staying frost free under the blanket of cloud. Outbreaks of rain will spread across the UK tomorrow, turning heavy at times."
The Environment Agency has responded by issuing 33 flood warnings and 129 less severe flood alerts, most of which are for waterways in the south of England. These include concern for River Severn near Gloucester, properties along the Somerset coast in and around Portishead, and several warnings for groundwater flooding across the West Wiltshire Downs near Warminster.
Natural Resources Wales says the Wye Estuary is likely to flooding at two points - in Chepstow and in Tintern. There are five warnings and five alerts across Scotland, and these include concern coastal areas in the Highlands from Helmsdale to Embo may experience flooding from the sea.
A map illustrates the locations of flood alerts and warnings across England alone (Gov.uk)
Motorists are warned to take care on roads, especially in rural areas (Courtesy of Welney Flood Watch / SWNS)And temperatures are yet to increase significantly since the turn of the meteorological season on March 1. It means the UK is still at risk of a final cold snap, during which snow could fall again. Forecasters stated last week the chances of snow at Easter are more likely than the chances of it at Christmas were. However, the team at Netweather say a cold spring is uncommon.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
"Looking through the records over the years, the return of snow and below freezing nights is not as uncommon in March or even April as you’d think," Nick Finnis, forecaster with the service, said. On the service's blog, Mr Finnis alludes to the bitter April of 2021, when there were a large number of night-time frosts across the country.
And, in March 2001, the mercury plunged to -21C in Scottish Highlands and approximately 10cm of snow fell in Powys, Wales, on March 17. South of England experienced significant snowfall just a few days later, Mr Finnish recalls in his blog entry.