UK weather forecast: Heavy rain expected to cause more flooding as millions travel for Christmas

Nearly 100 flood warnings remain in place across large parts of UK

Heavy rain is expected to cause more flooding across large parts of the UK as millions travel for Christmas getaways this weekend.

A severe weather warning for rain is in place for much of southern England on Saturday and Sunday with disruption to roads and public transport services likely, according to the Met Office.

Forecasters have warned of potential travel delays and flooding as up to 30mm of rain is expected to fall in some areas during the warning period.

The Environment Agency had 96 flood warnings in place just before 3pm on Saturday for areas where flooding is expected, while 237 additional flood alerts were also in place.

“Because it's been so very wet across the south this extra rain falling onto saturated ground could cause some further problems, so there is a weather warning in force scooting along southern counties during Saturday evening,” Alex Deakin, a Met Office meteorologist, said.

Mr Deakin added that the heavy rain is coming from a “fairly angry weather system” which will also bring strong winds on Saturday and Sunday.

However, the rain is expected to ease by the end of the weekend and a dryer Christmas week is predicted.

“It’s going to turn a little bit colder as we go into Christmas week but also it’s looking quite a bit dryer next week as well,” Mr Deakin added.

There is little chance of a white Christmas this year though, with a couple of showers in parts of Scotland possible but a mostly dry Christmas Day for most people.

The heavy rain comes after flooding brought serious disruption on Friday as commuters were left stranded on their journeys home.

The London-Gatwick-Brighton main railway line, which is one of the most intensively used in Europe, was closed near Gatwick airport due to overnight flooding.

Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services were all affected after rail lines were flooded.

John Halsall, the managing director of Network Rail’s southern region, has said the combination of one of the wettest autumns on record and a month’s worth of rainfall in the past five days has put the rail network “under enormous pressure”.

Adverse weather also led to the part-closure of the M23 motorway on Friday, with Sussex Police describing driving conditions in the region as “miserable”.

Devon and Cornwall Police said flooding across the force area had made “a number of roads impassable”.

Highways England has urged motorists to slow down and keep well back from the vehicle in front of them in wet weather.

Temperatures are expected to be at about 10C over the weekend in southern England and Wales, and at about 7C in northern England.

Slightly colder weather is predicted in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with temperatures at about 6C on average.

Additional reporting by PA