Heavy rain and strong winds to batter Britain as Met Office issues weather warnings across country

8 December 2023, 17:10

Heavy rain is on the way
Heavy rain is on the way. Picture: Getty/Alamy
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

Weather warnings have been issued across the UK as heavy wind and rain is expected to batter Britain over the weekend.

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Areas with Irish Sea coasts could see gusts of up to 70mph, with parts of the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland experiencing windspeeds of between 45 and 55mph, the Met Office said.

Wind speeds will increase in the west during Saturday morning then across other areas through the afternoon, before easing slowly from the west through the evening.

Homes and businesses may experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain falls in some parts of the UK, the forecaster said.

Yellow weather warnings for rain have been issued for areas of Dorset and Devon, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, with ground already heavily saturated.

UK rain
UK rain. Picture: Alamy

Rain of 30-50mm is expected to fall widely in southern Scotland, with possibly 60-80mm over higher ground, beginning on Friday night, the Met Office said.

Read More: Brits face fresh wave of snow over Christmas and New Year as Met Office issues new forecast

Read More: When is it going to snow next? Met Office verdict on weekend weather

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: "We're in for a wet and windy weekend.

"From 6pm tonight a band of heavy wind and rain will move through Scotland. There's a possibility of flooding because of the already saturated ground.

"Another band will move tomorrow morning from the south-west of the UK towards the north-east, bringing with it heavy rain for much of the country.

"By the afternoon most of the heavy wind and rain will have passed and it will just be showers for southern areas.

"We will also be seeing some quite strong winds in Wales, the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland, particularly coastal communities around the Irish Sea.

The bad weather could cause delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport, and coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities may be affected by spray and large waves, the forecaster said.

More rain on the way
More rain on the way. Picture: Alamy

The unsettled weather will continue into Sunday and next week, with a chance of further weather warnings.

Mr Dixon continued: "There is another area of low pressure coming on Sunday with the possibility of further warnings being issued."

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