Heavy rainfall, equivalent to almost five inches, is expected to hit various parts of the UK today, resembling a month’s worth of precipitation. This downpour is likely to cause flooding and hazardous road conditions, especially in the morning. A low-pressure system moving in from the west will bring intense rainfall to regions such as south Wales, Southwest England, and parts of Northwest England.
The Met Office has provided detailed forecasts for the timing of the rainfall in areas under the four weather warnings in effect today. Weather maps indicate significant downpours with red hues over western UK regions like south Wales and Dumfries and Galloway in the early morning hours.
By 6am, heavy rain is expected across most of Wales, with north Wales experiencing the strongest showers. During rush hour, Wales, Merseyside, and Lancashire are anticipated to face the brunt of the rainfall, according to meteorologists.
Throughout the day, most regions in the UK will experience rain, with southern areas like Glamorgan, Devon, and Somerset at a high risk of flooding and travel disruptions around midday. The weather maps highlight red and orange shades over these areas as the afternoon progresses.
The afternoon will bring particularly wet conditions to Southwest England. By around 3pm, the low-pressure system will move over the Home Counties and the Cotswolds. Southern counties can also expect windy conditions later in the day, as predicted by meteorological experts.
Showers will linger and intensify towards the evening, with heavy rain expected across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and eventually reaching the capital. Weather warnings will remain in place throughout the day due to concerns about flooding, power outages, and travel disruptions.
The weather warnings indicate that up to 120mm of rainfall, nearly five inches, is forecasted for regions including south Wales, mid Wales, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cumbria. Notably, Swansea typically receives around 110mm of rain in December, while Manchester averages about 100mm. Bristol, also under a warning, usually sees approximately 80mm of rainfall in an average December.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Rebekah Hicks has cautioned about heavy rainfall moving over south Wales from Sunday to Monday. Accumulations of 100-120mm are expected in the highest ground areas, with 60-80mm likely in many hills within the Amber warning zone and 20-40mm for lower levels throughout the day.
Furthermore, yellow warnings for rain have been issued for the southwest and northwest of England, central and northern Wales, and southwest Scotland, with possible disruptions expected in these regions during the day.