UK weather: Storm Jorge to bring further flooding as downpours could make February wettest on record
More evacuations expected as workers battle to repair flood defences before new storm hits
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK is bracing for another bout of strong winds and heavy rain as Storm Jorge bears down, with this month on track to become the wettest February on record.
The Met Office has put in place three consecutive days of weather warnings from Friday to Sunday, with forecasters warning that further flooding is possible.
Parts of Wales and northern England may experience between 60 and 80mm of rain on Friday, while winds will reach 70mph in some coastal areas on Saturday.
Emma Salter, a forecaster at the Met Office, said that the weekend’s predicted weather is “not good news”, coming on top of all the recent rain in the UK.
This month is currently the second-wettest February on record, with 179.3mm of rain falling between the start of the month and February 25.
It may surpass the record figure of 193.4mm, which fell in the UK in February 1990.
The Met Office's chief meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, confirmed that more flooding was possible as rain is predicted to fall on already saturated ground.
Mr Gundersen said: "This weekend we'll see another named Storm bring strong winds to parts of the UK with several wind and rain warnings in place.
"We have issued rain warnings for parts of Wales and northern England, where rain will be heaviest and we could see 60-80mm possible over the highest ground."
The Environment Agency still has a severe “danger to life” flood warning for the River Severn at Wharfage in Ironbridge, Shropshire.
There are fears that Ironbridge’s temporary flood barriers could become fully breached, after rising water pushed them back.
Environment Secretary George Eustice went to the town on Thursday, saying his visit was delayed so that emergency services could "deal with the immediate impacts".
He added that the prime minister had not visited because he wanted Mr Eustice to take “a lead” on the government's flooding response.
Elsewhere, residents in some villages in Yorkshire and a town in Worcestershire Yorkshire were evacuated due to flooding.
There are also 75 flood warnings and 119 flood alerts currently in place, indicating expected and likely flooding respectively.
As well as warnings for rain, the Met Office has issue a wind warning for 24 hours from midday on Saturday for most of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and southwest Scotland.
Mr Gundersen said Ireland will have the strongest and most damaging winds.
Storm Jorge will be the fifth storm to buffet the UK since 6 December.
Additional reporting from PA
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