Brits are bracing for a spell of devastating rain prior to the arrival of Storm Ciarán that may cause catastrophic floods.
Flood warnings are in place in England, Scotland and Wales, and there’s a yellow weather warning in place in Northern Ireland.
Ciarán is set to strike southern England and Wales from Thursday and its arrival comes after several areas of the UK flooded this weekend.
Experts have warned that torrential downpours on already saturated ground may lead to further flooding, sparking chaos across the affected areas.
As well as the flood warnings, the country is stealing itself for up to 100mph winds this week, with coastal areas in southern England and Wales in the firing line.
Warning of the impact of the incoming storm, Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, said: “Winds associated with Storm Ciarán are likely to gust to 80mph along the south coast of England, with a small risk of somewhere exposed seeing 90mph, and winds could even gust up to 50 or 60 mph further inland.
“This deep low-pressure system will also bring heavy rain to much of the UK, but the heaviest rain is expected in southern and western areas with 20 to 25mm quite widely across the region but up to 40 to 60mm potentially over higher ground.
“Heavy and persistent rain will fall onto already saturated ground bringing a risk of further impacts such as flooding in areas that are already struggling to clean up from the heavy rainfall we have seen over the last week or so.”
The inclement weather typical of this time of year has already arrived, with locations across the UK submerged in floodwater.
The village of Lanchester in County Durham found itself underwater over the weekend, as did Hastings in East Sussex. The flooding was so bad on the south coast, that Hastings’ shopping centre had to be evacuated.
As well as southern England and Wales’ yellow weather warnings, Northern Ireland has one in place.
It covers most of the country, including the capital Belfast, with residents warned that “flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely”.
