UK weather forecast live – Torrential rain to BATTER Britain this week, Met Office warns as Essex braces for FLOODS
TORRENTIAL rain is set to batter Britain this week as snow showers give way to heavy downpours.
The Met Office has put out several heavy rain warnings and starting at midnight on Wednesday heavy rain is forecast in every area of the county.
The downpours will be especially bad in parts of Essex where torrential rain is due to last 27 hours, with warnings in place until 3am Thursday.
Follow our weather live blog below for more information as well as all the latest news and updates from around the country
- Olivia Burke
Beautiful skies pictured this morning in Staffordshire, but you know what they say – "red sky in the morning, shepherds warning".
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- Olivia Burke
ESSEX BRACES FOR FLOODING AS 27 HOURS OF TORRENTIAL RAIN EXPECTED
THE Met Office have warned heavy rainfall this week is likely to cause flooding to homes and businesses.
Travel and public transport routes may also be delayed due to the heavy rain, which could potentially even disrupt power supplies.
Drivers have been told to take extra care as rain in Essex is set to begin on Wednesday night and last for 27 hours.
A yellow weather warning has been put in place, encouraging people to prepare for the wet conditions.
- John Hall
POLAR WINDS SET TO SWEEP THE UK
POLAR air will sweep across the country this week as warning continue regarding snowfall and freezing temperatures.
In the north, temperatures will hit 0C and only 1C in the south tonight – but temperatures could plummet to as low as -10C in Scotland.
However, temperatures will hit 12C on Tuesday in the south, higher than usual for this time of year. The North will see highs of 5C.
- John Hall
FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED
Twelve flood warnings are in place as heavy rainfall is expected across the country this week.
The majority of the warnings in place are in the south, such as in Peterborough and Thornley, with most danger areas being in close proximity to a river.
However, 71 flood alerts have been issued throughout the UK, where flooding is possible and residents are advised to prepare.
Check the list of flood warnings here.
- John Hall
WET AND WINDY OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
THIS week will be a wet and windy one from late Monday.
This evening will see rain for most of the country, heavy at times, that is most persistent across northern England and north Wales.
Winds pick up in the south, which continues throughout the week.
Northern Ireland and much of Scotland will see heavy showers throughout the week, although it is milder in the south.
The heavy rainfall persists for the rest of the week, before strong winds and dropping temperatures bring wintry showers in the north and possible snowfall.
- John Hall
LONDON COULD BE BLANKETED WITH SNOW ON SATURDAY
According to reports from the Met Office, London is set to be blanketed with snow on Saturday.
The forecasting comes amid weather warnings affecting many parts of the UK.
The snowfall could begin in the capital "around three or four in the morning" and would continue into the afternoon.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge projected that between three to five centimetres of snow would fall in London on Saturday.
Mr Patridge added that the snow would be followed by rain in the afternoon.
- John Hall
OUTLOOK THROUGH FRIDAY
The weather will remain extremely unsettled with heavy rainfall.
There is potential for some snowfall and strong winds across southern and more especially central areas.
It will be much colder in the North with wintry showers.
- John Hall
TONIGHT AND TOMORROW'S WEATHER
By tonight, there will be heavy rain for most across northern England and North Wales.
It will become windy in the South and there will be showers for North Scotland.
Rain will continue into Tuesday. It will remain heavy and persistent over central parts with some snow for Northern Ireland and southern Scotland.
- John Hall
WEATHER WARNINGS
A yellow and amber weather warning for rain is in place on Tuesday until Wednesday.
The Met Office forecast for today is that showers will continue over much of Scotland – heavy and blustery in the far north.
It will be a drier to start further south but rain arriving into Wales and southwest England during the afternoon and then moving northeast.
- John Hall
MET OFFICE LONG RANGE FORECAST: ‘SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL’ GOING INTO FEBRUARY
The Met Office’s long-range forecast is for “significant snowfall on the boundary between milder and colder air masses” as we go into February.
From January 28 till February 11, the service predicts “a greater than average chance of cold spells across the UK with the associated risk of wintry hazards.
“There is potential at times for significant snowfall on the boundary between milder and colder air masses, with greatest risk across central and northern areas.”
- John Hall
SAHARA HIT BY ICY BLAST LEAVING SNOW IN THE DESERT
The Sahara desert has been hit by an icy blast with temperatures dipping below freezing.
Snow also blanketed parts of Saudi Arabia which saw the mercury hit -2C.
Snow also fell near the desert town of Aïn Séfra in Algeria this week.
Photographer Karim Bouchetata took incredible photos of ice covering the sand in the small Saharan desert town. Sheep were seen standing on the ice-covered dunes on Wednesday as temperatures dipped to -3C.
Read more here.
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