UK weather forecast: More than 80 flood warnings in place across country but rain will ease off, experts say

Ellena Cruse23 December 2019

Downpours which have blighted Britain over recent days and disrupted Christmas travel plans are easing off, but more than 80 flood warnings remain in place.

The Met Office, which had put a yellow warning in place until 9am on Sunday, said the weather is improving across the UK today.

But showers are still expected in eastern and western parts of the country including Wiltshire, Yorkshire and East Anglia, it said.

The Environment Agency has issued 88 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – for the Midlands, the south, the south west and south east of England.

The agency also issued 237 flood alerts - meaning flooding was possible and people needed be prepared - for the same areas and into the country's north. The Met Office has not issued any national weather warnings.

Floodwater in Yalding, Kent, this morning
PA

The south was soaked by showers throughout Saturday.

Surrey had to deal with a tornado as strong winds whipped through Runnymede and Chertsey, felling trees and damaging homes.

Overnight, emergency services in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, had to rescue a mother and her three young sons who became stuck in their car in flood water in Edgecott.

Thames Valley Police urged drivers not to move or ignore “road closed” signs placed on the routes most at risk of flooding.

On Friday night, one officer had to strip down to his boxer shorts to check on a car stuck in Kingsey.

A stranded car in floodwater near Yalding, Kent, after heavy rain which has disrupted Christmas travel plans for lots of people
PA

Kent was also badly affected, with the River Medway on the verge of bursting its banks between Teston and West Farleigh near Maidstone.

Elsewhere, the residents of Little Venice Caravan Park in Yalding, Kent, had to be rescued by motorboat.

The Environment Agency also issued a warning, advising people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through standing water. It said just 30cm of flowing flood water is enough to flood a car.

So far this autumn, rainfall records have been broken for South Yorkshire, Nottingham and Lincolnshire and across the country it has been the fifth wettest autumn since records began.

A car van drives over a partially submerged Teston Bridge in West Farleigh near Maidstone, Kent on Sunday
PA

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said weather is improving across the board with highs of 11C in the Midlands and south, and 5C in northern England and Scotland on Sunday.

"There are more brighter spells but there will be small showers in parts of the county in the afternoon," he said.

A horse box submerged in floodwater at Little Venice Caravan Park in Yalding, Kent, on Sunday
PA

"On Monday, it improves as the day goes on across England.

"Those buying Christmas food and gifts will see winds that are not so strong.

"In Scotland and Northern Ireland, however, it will still shower."

The brighter spell follows days of rain across southern England.​ Nearly 100 yellow rain warnings were in force on Saturday with experts predicting two weeks' worth of precipitation in some parts of the country.

Groundwater levels across parts of the south are still very high, there are likely to be ongoing flood issues in the region.

The rain will gradually clear over the next few days just in time for a crisp, sunny day on December 25 according to the Met Office.

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