Almost 100 flood warnings issued across UK ahead of more wet weather

Flood warnings have been issued for England, alongside 250 weather alerts, as more rain is set to lash the UK after never-ending grey skies.

If you have felt like the start of the New Year has felt unusually wet, you’re right – it has rained pretty much every day in the UK this year, and it is not ending any time soon.

And with this amount of water soaking up the ground and rivers the risk of flooding has surged.

The Environment Agency has issued 80 flood warnings across England – the second-highest category.

It means that flooding is likely, with the greatest impacts expected in the South West and the Midlands.

It follows after days of rain has been falling in many parts of the UK, marking an ‘exceptionally wet’ start to February, the Met Office said.

Meanwhile across Wales, 11 flood alerts have been issued, while Scotland is currently dealing with one flood warning alongside five flood alerts.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service raised concerns, saying water levels in the River Dene have climbed to a point where flooding could occur at any moment.

These warnings are triggered when flooding is anticipated from swollen rivers, intense rainfall leading to flash floods, or coastal conditions such as high tides combined with storm surges and strong winds.

According to the Environment Agency, flood warnings are typically released between half an hour and two hours before flooding begins.

And the weather has more in store this weekend.

Further rainfall is forecast for much of the UK today, with gusty showers expected in the South West and particularly heavy downpours in South Wales.

A yellow rain warning is active in Aberdeenshirem Scotland, until 9am tomorrow as up to 30mm of rain could land on higher ground.

Dan Stroud, operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘Unfortunately, there’s no end in sight.’

Alex Deakin from the Met Office added that a big area of high pressure was to blame.

He said: ‘Friday’s been a very soggy day across a good chunk of the country, cold wind continuing to feed in the cloud and the moisture across north-east England and eastern Scotland.

‘Until that area of high pressure sort of shifts out of the way, we’re not really going to see much of a change in the forecast.

‘At the same time, we’ve got the jet stream way to the south, bringing exceptional wet weather to Spain and Portugal.’

Continental Europe has been gripped by wild weather last week, ranging from devastating flooding and landslides in Portugal and Spain to an Arctic blast in northern Europe.

Non-stop rain brought by Storm Leonardo has led to deaths and disruption across the Iberian Peninsula.

Dozens of flights were cancelled in Germany dozens of flights have been cancelled at Berlin Airport after wintry weather caused black ice on the tarmac.

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