The Met Office has issued a stark warning that fast-flowing or deep floodwater could present a serious threat to life in areas affected by the heavy rainfall this weekend.
Concerning weather maps have predicted 75mph gales and heavy downpours set to pummel Scotland within hours.
Charts from WX Charts revealed a significant band of rain moving across the northern parts of the UK from Sunday into Monday. Additional weather maps suggested that maximum wind gusts of between 65mph and 75mph will strike large areas of Wales, the North of England and Scotland at midnight on Monday.
The maps show significant areas of purple which is associated with severe weather.
The Met Office has meanwhile issued a serious warning that fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a significant danger to life in regions affected by the substantial rainfall this weekend. On Saturday, a new amber weather warning for rain was implemented for southwestern Scotland, covering Dumfries and Galloway, the Lothian borders and Strathclyde.
The forecaster anticipated that some locations could witness rainfall amounts of between 110mm and 130mm. The Met Office noted that most of the warning area will receive 50mm to 70mm of rain, with strong winds “will likely exacerbate conditions”.
Homes and businesses throughout parts of northern England and southwest Scotland are anticipated to encounter flooding as “very heavy and persistent rain” is predicted throughout Sunday and into Monday, reports the Express. This warning takes effect at midnight on Sunday and stays in force until 11.59pm the same day, reports the Mirror.
An amber rain warning has also been issued for Cumbria, starting at 6am on Sunday and lasting until 6pm on Monday. The Met Office warns that rainfall could surpass 200mm in some areas, particularly across the western parts of the county.
People living in areas covered by amber weather warnings for rain have been advised to avoid floodwater at all costs. The Met Office has stressed that driving, walking, or swimming through floodwater is extremely dangerous.
Anyone trapped in fast-flowing or deep floodwater should call 999 immediately and wait for emergency services.
Road conditions are expected to become “potentially dangerous”, while the heavy rainfall is likely to cause power cuts. Some communities could be completely cut off by flooded roads.
Yellow weather warnings for rain are in place on Saturday and extend through to Monday. These affect large parts of Scotland, northern England – including Derbyshire, Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire – as well as parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Nick Finnis, Senior Forecaster at Netweather, said that while the next few days will bring exceptionally wet weather to some parts of Britain, there are “tentative signs” that conditions may settle and become drier across the country approaching Christmas.
He pointed to increasing indications that high pressure building over northern Europe might push low-pressure systems westward and southward. Mr Finnis added: “It may turn colder than of late too, with overnight frosts, though how cold is too early to say.”
