An area of low pressure is bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to parts of the UK as it moves in from the east. An Amber severe weather warning has been issued for parts of northern Wales and northwestern England.

Within the Amber warning area 30-40mm of rain is expected to fall, with high ground of northwestern England seeing 70-90mm. The mountains of North Wales may see 100-150mm or more through the warning period which ends at midday on Thursday.

Separate Yellow severe weather warnings for rain have been issued for much of Scotland, northern Wales and England from the Midlands northwards as well as the northeast of Northern Ireland.

A thunderstorm warning has also been issued for the south coast of England. While many places will remain dry, scattered showers are expected to develop through Wednesday.  Where these do develop, they are likely to be heavy at times, with a risk of hail and thunder.  Some locations within the warning area may see 10-20mm within an hour and perhaps 30-40mm in 2-3 hours. 

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “A band of prolonged and heavy rain will move north and west across the UK during Wednesday and Thursday.

“Areas exposed to the strengthening northerly winds are most likely to see the highest rainfall amounts, with a chance of some areas, particularly over higher ground in North Wales seeing more than 150mm, with parts of North West England seeing more than 80mm.

“Many places could see 30-40 mm of rain, while a few areas may receive 60-80 mm. Areas over higher ground in the Amber warning areas could see the equivalent of more than one months’ worth of rain before the low pressure moves on, later on Thursday.”

Further ahead

We’re still likely to see some showers on Friday, especially in the north, though there will some brighter spells in the south and east through the day. Later on Saturday, a front may move in from the Atlantic bringing a band of rain to Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland. For many though, Saturday is likely to be a fair day, feeling warmer with temperatures slightly higher than average.

Conditions are likely to change on Sunday though, as we see a return to more unsettled and showery weather.

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Rain drops falling into a puddle.