A weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of England and Wales, with heavy rain expected to cause travel disruption and flooding in some areas. The warning, which is in place from 6pm today (October 15) until 12pm tomorrow (October 16), covers large parts of the west of England and Wales, including Darwen and parts of Blackburn.
The warning area stretches from Preston and Blackburn in the north down to the opposite end of the country, with East Lancashire being right on the edge of the highlighted area. Residents in these areas can expect heavy rain to develop and push north across the warning area, with many places seeing around 10mm to 20mm of rain. However, some locations may see considerably more than this over a six-hour period, with parts of southwest England and south Wales being the most likely to be affected.
A few places may even see 50mm to 80mm of rainfall in six hours, which could lead to significant flooding and travel disruption. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible in the south of the warning area, with lightning being an additional hazard. The Met Office has warned that the heavy rain could lead to travel disruption, including difficult driving conditions, and flooding in some areas.
In Blackburn, heavy rain is expected to start at around midnight and continue until around 9am, when it should start to clear up. Temperatures will remain mild at around 13°C throughout the night and pick up slowly going into Wednesday as the rain clears. Residents in the affected areas are advised to take necessary precautions to minimize the impact of the heavy rain.
This includes checking the latest weather forecast and warnings before traveling, avoiding travel unless absolutely necessary, being aware of the risk of flooding and taking steps to protect property, and following the advice of local authorities and emergency services. The Met Office has urged residents in the affected areas to take necessary precautions and stay up to date with the latest weather forecast and warnings.
A Met Office spokesperson said: “Areas of heavy rain are expected to develop and push north across the warning area. Rain will develop in southwest England late afternoon, before becoming heavier and expanding north on Tuesday evening and overnight into Wednesday. We urge residents in the affected areas to take necessary precautions and stay up to date with the latest weather forecast and warnings.”
The Met Office has also warned that the heavy rain could lead to flooding in some areas, particularly in low-lying areas and near rivers. Residents in these areas are advised to take steps to protect their property, including moving valuable items to higher ground and preparing for possible evacuation.
In addition to the heavy rain, isolated thunderstorms are also possible in the south of the warning area. These thunderstorms could bring lightning, which could pose an additional hazard to residents and travelers. The Met Office has warned that the thunderstorms could be intense, with frequent lightning and strong winds.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay indoors during the thunderstorms and avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary. The Met Office has also warned that the heavy rain and thunderstorms could lead to power outages and disruptions to essential services.
Residents are advised to prepare for possible disruptions to their daily routines and to stay informed about the latest weather forecast and warnings. The Met Office will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
In the meantime, residents in the affected areas are advised to take necessary precautions to stay safe during the heavy rain and thunderstorms. This includes staying indoors during the worst of the weather, avoiding travel unless absolutely necessary, and following the advice of local authorities and emergency services.
The Met Office has also warned that the heavy rain could lead to flooding in some areas, particularly in low-lying areas and near rivers. Residents in these areas are advised to take steps to protect their property, including moving valuable items to higher ground and preparing for possible evacuation.
The Met Office has urged residents in the affected areas to take necessary precautions and stay up to date with the latest weather forecast and warnings. By taking these precautions, residents can minimize the impact of the heavy rain and stay safe during the worst of the weather.