The Met Office has issued a series of weather warnings for wind, rain, and ice as Britain looks set to get battered by a post-Christmas washout.
The first weather warning for ice came in force at 7.40pm on Monday, December 25, for northern Scotland. It will remain in force throughout Tuesday as temperatures dropped with rain and snow falling on Christmas Day.
On Wednesday, December 27, there are five different yellow weather warnings in force for Britain. Heavy rain and snow remains predicted for Scotland, with up to 2-3 cm of snow possible in places.
The Met says some more rural communities could end up cut off due to the extreme weather. The warning will remain in place until 11.59pm on Wednesday.
The Met Office states: “A band of heavy rain and hill snow will move northeast across Scotland on Wednesday. At low elevations (roughly below 200 metres) this will fall as rain, with 20-30 mm developing quite widely across the warning area, with a risk of 50-70 mm in some locations.
“At higher elevations (roughly above 200 metres) snow is expected, with 10-15 cm likely to accumulate, particularly on southeast-facing hills and will affect some higher transport routes.”
Meanwhile a weather warning for rain is in place for northern England – including Manchester, Cheshire East, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Durham, Lancashire, and Yorkshire – as well as Staffordshire towards the Midlands.
The Met Office says there is a chance some areas will flood. It states: “Outbreaks of heavy rain will move northeastwards across northern England and southern Scotland during Wednesday.
“Across the warning area 20-30 mm of rain is expected to accumulate quite widely. Over higher ground of the Pennines, Lake District and Southern Uplands, 40-60 mm is likely during this period with as much as 70-90 mm in a few locations. Strong winds will likely exacerbate any impacts from the rain. Snow is also likely for a short time across higher ground, although this will quickly turn to rain.”
Vast swathes of Wales are also covered by a weather warning for rain. The Met Office says Wales could also be hit with between 30-40 mm of rain in places with 70-90mm further south.
A final yellow weather warning for rain will run across the southweast region between midnight on Wednesday and 6pm. It syas there between 15 and 25mm of rain is forecast at places with more in the Dorset Downs and Dartmoor.
The Met Office added: “Outbreaks of heavy rain will move northeastwards across southwest England during Wednesday. Strong winds will likely exacerbate any impacts from the rain.”
A weather warning for wind has been issued for the south coast, with 60mph winds expected across large parts of England. More exposed areas are forecast gusts of 70mph.
The Met Office says Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset will be prone to winds. It forecasts: “A spell of strong southwesterly winds are likely during Wednesday, initially affecting Cornwall in the west of the warning area before spreading eastwards through the course of the day.
“Gusts are likely to reach 50-60 mph fairly widely, with a risk of 65-70 mph across some exposed headlands. Disruption or delays to transport are possible.”
