UK weather forecast: Britain braces for heavy rainfall and flooding amid Christmas travel chaos

Passengers are advised to allow more time for their travel or to find alternative routes

Heavy rainfall is expected to drench the UK over the weekend, bringing more flooding to railways and roads already being disrupted across south-east England.

Southern Railway, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express are currently experiencing severe disruption due to tracks and stations being flooded.

Southern said in an announcement: “Due to the consistent rainfall, the water level has reached rail level height, this means trains are not able to travel over the track. Network Rail have dispatched track maintenance teams to the area to assess and take whatever action may help.”

Passengers have been strongly advised not to travel or to find alternative routes, but Southern notes: “Please be mindful that roads will also be suffering from the increased rainfall.”

Highways England said the M23 in Sussex is closed in both directions due to flooding.

The persistent rain is also affecting airports, as Eurocontrol is warning of “moderate to high delays” at Heathrow due to the weather.

Similar problems are being experienced at Luton and London City airports.

Yellow weather warnings for heavy rain over the next three days have been put in place for Kent, East and West Sussex, and Surrey.

The Environmental Agency has 52 flood warnings in place, mainly in the south.

Met Office meteorologist Bonnie Diamond told The Independent: "It's already been a wet week for most of the UK but it will be largely drier with bright spells in most of the country, with the exception of east and south England.

"As we head into Christmas week, we'll see drier but colder conditions. There is a chance that a low pressure system may sweep in on Monday and Tuesday, so there may be some rain but it's quite uncertain right now."

She added Christmas day is expected to be "crisp and frosty" with bright spells.