Met Office warns of rainy weather

The Met Office has alerted residents in parts of England and Wales to expect heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding and travel problems. A yellow weather warning has been activated for south-west England and south Wales, in effect from 18:00 GMT on Monday until 18:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Meteorologists report that a low-pressure system moving in from the south-west is likely to bring intense rain and strong winds, with effects potentially lasting until early Wednesday.

Currently, the exact path, intensity, and timing of this system remain uncertain, making it challenging to predict the areas that will experience the strongest winds or heaviest rainfall, explained Steven Keates, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office. He added that as more details become available, more severe weather warnings may be issued over the weekend.

The rain is expected to be persistent and heavy, with some locations receiving up to 40mm (1.6in) of precipitation, and Dartmoor along with elevated areas of south Wales potentially seeing 6080mm, which could exceed half of the typical December rainfall.

Travel could be severely impacted by road flooding and spray, and disruptions to train and bus services are possible. In some locations, rising waters might isolate communities and damage homes or businesses. The Met Office also cautioned that fast-flowing water could present life-threatening risks, with certain areas potentially experiencing power outages.

Regions Covered by the Weather Warning

The warning applies to much of south-west England and south Wales, including:

• Bath and North East Somerset
• Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole
• Gloucestershire
• Isles of Scilly
• North Somerset
• South Gloucestershire
• Blaenau Gwent
• Carmarthenshire
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Pembrokeshire
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Herefordshire

Residents in these areas are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts and prepare for potentially hazardous conditions over the next few days.

Author: Ethan Caldwell