Brits drenched amid heavy rain as 226 flood alerts issued

The UK is set to face heavy rain on Thursday, according to the Met Office, as the forecaster issued a yellow weather warning. In its Thursday forecast, the UK’s national weather service said that southern areas would see heavy rain early on while northern areas would be drier early on before becoming wetter later.

They said: “Further rain across southern areas, heavy in places, although turning brighter from the west later. Mild here although windy.

“Meanwhile northern areas start clearer or brighter with patchy frost, before bands of heavy showers and gales spread from the west.”

Thursday evening will also see some heavy rain in north-west England, along with gales in Northern Ireland, North Wales and Northern England, according to the meteorological service.

The Met Office added: “Most areas seeing variable cloud and scattered showers, heavy in places, particularly northwest England. Gales affect Northern Ireland at first, then parts of North Wales and northern England, particularly coasts.”

The yellow weather warning has been issued for South West England, South Wales and Mid Wales until 5pm on Thursday.

In these areas, there could be power cuts and the loss of other services to homes and businesses.

Homes and businesses, along with other buildings, could be damaged, while fast-flowing or deep floodwater is possible.

Some communities could be cut off by flooded waters and driving conditions could be very difficult.

READ MORE: Doctor warns of key lung cancer symptoms

The Environment Agency has identified a number of areas where the localised risk of flooding is currently ongoing and alerts were issued in the early hours of Thursday morning.

In England, these include Dragley Beck at Ulverston from Dragley Beck Bridge on Well Lane downstream to South Ulverston, the River Barle from Simonsbath to Brushford, including Withypool and the River Exe at Winsford and Bridgetown.

Across England, there are 172 current flood alerts, with only one in Scotland at Innerpeffray to Bridge of Earn.

In Wales, there are 69 alerts, with the most recent ones declared early on Thursday morning at the River Taff at Aberfan, River Wye at Glasbury, River Taff at Quakers Yard, River Cynon at Mountain Ash, River Cynon at Abercynon and River Cynon at Aberaman.

DON’T MISS: 
Inside London’s hidden tunnel that no one knows exists [REVEAL]
Heathrow ‘dirty bomb’ scare after ‘Iran-linked’ uranium arrives in UK [INSIGHT] 
Torrential wind and rain to hit UK for TWO weeks of weather chaos [SPOTLIGHT] 

According to the BBC’s weather forecast, a bright start in the north east will be followed by wet weather, particularly in the west.

Although it will be drier later on Thursday, cloudy and wetter weather will continue for longer in the north.

They said: “After a bright start in the northeast, cloud and spells of rain will sweep in from the west for most of today.

“These will clear east for the south later, but staying cloudy and wet in the north. Windy.”