Households across the UK are being urged to charge their mobile phones before Saturday as heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to batter the country.
The Met Office has warned that unsettled weather conditions will prevail for many over the coming days, with up to 80mm of rain expected to fall in some areas. A yellow national severe weather warning has been issued for large swathes of northern England, Scotland and Wales over the weekend, with the warning in force from 9am on Saturday, September 20, until 6am on Sunday, September 21. The national forecaster said a low pressure system will move in from the southwest on Saturday bringing heavy rain and a risk of thunderstorms, with strong gusts exceeding 55mph likely.
Households are being urged to charge mobile phones before the unsettled weather strikes on Saturday as there is a possibility of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.
The Met Office has also warned of a risk of flooding due to the heavy rainfall, so households are advised to “be prepared” and take action to protect their home.
In its advice for staying safe in flooding, the Met Office said: “It’s never too late to take action and prepare for flooding. Follow these 6 simple steps to protect your home or business:
- Check the flood advice in your area to know when and where flooding will happen
- Charge mobile phone devices
- Park your car outside the flood zone
- Prepare a flood kit to help you cope in the event of flooding to your home and business
- Store valuables up high, including electrical devices, important documents and furniture
- Turn off gas, water and electricity supplies.”
The forecaster said around 20 to 40mm of rain is expected to fall widely across affected areas in northern England, Wales and southern Scotland, but there is a chance between 60 and 80mm could fall in some places. From mid-Saturday onwards, increasingly strong winds will develop and possible thunder, increasing the chance of disruption.
The Met Office added: “Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.
“Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.
“People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”
The yellow weather warning for rain currently covers the following seven regions of the UK, but the forecaster warned more warnings could be issued as the weather system develops:
East Midlands
North East England
- Darlington
- Durham
- Gateshead
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- Northumberland
- Redcar and Cleveland
- South Tyneside
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Sunderland
North West England
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Cheshire East
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Cumbria
- Greater Manchester
- Halton
- Lancashire
- Merseyside
- Warrington
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Lothian
- Scottish Borders
Wales
- Bridgend
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Gwynedd
- Isle of Anglesey
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Neath Port Talbot
- Pembrokeshire
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Wrexham
West Midlands
- Herefordshire
- Shropshire
- Staffordshire
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Telford and Wrekin
Yorkshire & Humber
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- North Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- York