Britain faces gloomy week…but experts warn of ‘danger to life’ when deluge brings flooding

Calm before the CHAOS! Britain basks in glorious sun today… but experts say a weekend washout is on the way with 36-hour deluge bringing floods from Friday

  • Forecasters issue ‘danger to life’ warning this weekend with heavy rain and flooding set to batter Britain
  • Up to two inches of rain to hit during 36 hours of torrential downpours from noon on Friday to late Saturday
  • Met Office warning says ‘there is a slight chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life’

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Parts of Britain are set for a weekend washout with up to four inches of rain expected to fall within 36 hours.

The Met Office has issued a ‘danger to life’ warning for Friday and Saturday in Wales and North West England amid fears over fast flowing or deep floodwater along with possible power cuts and travel disruption.

Forecasters said up to 2.4in (60mm) of rain is likely, with up to 4in (100mm) possible over higher ground exposed to strong south-westerly winds as the downpours become heavy and persistent. 

Sunrise on a misty morning where temperatures started at 6C at Andrews Mare in the New Forest near Stoney Cross today

The sun begins to rise behind a mist covered Corfe Castle, a National Trust property in the Purbeck Hills in Dorset

The sun begins to rise behind a mist covered Corfe Castle, a National Trust property in the Purbeck Hills in Dorset

The sun rises behind Tower Bridge in London this morning, with HMS Belfast and City Hall visible to the right

The sun rises behind Tower Bridge in London this morning, with HMS Belfast and City Hall visible to the right

Autumnal colours on display at Micheldever Woods in Hampshire today on what is a sunny day for many parts of Britain

Autumnal colours on display at Micheldever Woods in Hampshire today on what is a sunny day for many parts of Britain

A ship sits out at sea before the sun rises off the coast of Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear this morning

A ship sits out at sea before the sun rises off the coast of Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear this morning

Sunrise over the pier and beach today in the seaside resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire

Sunrise over the pier and beach today in the seaside resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire

Dog walkers are pictured through the early morning mist at Windsor Great Park in Berkshire today

Dog walkers are pictured through the early morning mist at Windsor Great Park in Berkshire today

The sun rises on a misty morning over Wimbledon in South West London today

The sun rises on a misty morning over Wimbledon in South West London today

The Met Office said that where flooding occurs, ‘there is a slight chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life’ and a ‘small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads’.

It comes after a stunning sunrise was photographed across Britain this morning, from Dorset to Berkshire and London to North Yorkshire, with the conditions misty in many parts of the country before what was a sunny day.

The Met Office weather warning said: ‘Rain is expected to arrive across parts of the UK during Friday and become heavy and persistent. This is especially true for high ground exposed to the strong south-westerly wind.

‘There remains some uncertainty to the locations likely to see the highest rainfall totals. This rain is expected to continue falling in similar areas for around 24 hours. As such during this period 40mm to 60mm of rain is likely.’

This afternoon's forecast

Tonight's forecast

Tonight will be largely dry for Britain with clear periods and patchy mist and fog forming in England and Wales

Tomorrow's forecast

Thursday's forecast

Cloudy conditions are expected tomorrow (left) and on Thursday (right), with rain also possible in southern and eastern areas

Met Office weather warning

Rain details of weather warning

The Met Office has put a weather warning in place for Friday and Saturday (left), with up to 4in of rain expected (right)

The warning, which runs from midday on Friday until shortly before midnight on Saturday night, added that ‘perhaps as much as 100mm’ of rain could fall over higher ground within the period.

Before the weekend experts say tonight will be largely dry with clear periods and patchy mist and fog forming for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland will be cloudier with rain pushing into northern Scotland.

Tomorrow will be dry with sunny spells for most of England and Wales but there will be showers for South East England and along the south coast. Rain will also push across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Thursday is expected to be windy in the North with sunny spells for most but some showers in western areas. Friday should start largely dry and bright but outbreaks of rain will then push into western parts later.

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