Met Office issues new UK weather warnings for rain with further flooding possible

Yellow weather warnings for rain issued for parts of UK after Storm Bert battered country over weekend

The Met Office has issued weather alerts for rain across parts of the UK, warning of likely further flooding, power cuts and travel chaos after Storm Bert battered the country over the weekend.

The environment secretary Steve Reed also warned more flooding is “likely” this week, although the impact “should be less severe” after at least two people died during the storm.

Two yellow weather warnings for potentially heavy rain will be in place in parts of London, south-east England and some of the south-west on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Met Office announced on Tuesday morning that the alerts will be in place from 10pm on Tuesday through to midday on Wednesday, with colder temperatures also expected on Wednesday.

It said: “Spells of rain, heavy in places, likely to lead to some disruption on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.”

Weather warning comes after Storm Bert battered the UK over the weekend, causing hundreds of homes to be flooded and tens of thousands of households to be without electricity (PA Wire)

People are warned that bus and train services will likely be hit and that spray and flooding on roads is expected, all causing delays and longer journey times.

The forecaster also said a few homes and businesses could be flooded, while power supplies and other services are likely to be interrupted.

It comes after Storm Bert swept across the UK over the weekend, causing hundreds of homes to be flooded and tens of thousands of households to be without electricity.

Communities in England and Wales were starting a “massive clean-up” following the widespread flooding.

Hundreds of homes were left underwater, roads were turned into rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across parts of the UK.

Billing Aquadrome in Northampton, England, was flooded with heavy rain after Storm Bert swept across the country (Getty)

Residents in some affected areas have said they do not believe the chaos will be cleared by Christmas.

Mr Reed told the Commons on Monday evening an estimated 107 properties have flooded across England.

He added: “Further flooding is sadly likely over the next few days as water levels rise in slower-flowing rivers such as the Severn and the Ouse.

“The Environment Agency anticipates that any impacts should be less severe than we have seen in recent days.”

The Met Office said while many parts of the country would see “a dry and largely sunny day” with lighter winds on Tuesday, an area of low pressure will bring heavy rain into southern areas overnight into Wednesday.

Emergency services were at the scene of a scaffolding collapse on Bethnal Green Road, London, on Monday as Storm Bert battered the UK (PA)

Deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “On Tuesday night, we’ll see outbreaks of rain spreading north-eastwards, which could be heavy at times.

“We’re expecting this to be heaviest across the south/south-east of England, although subtle changes over the next 24 hours will have an impact on how this develops. There could also be strong winds for a time, and it’s possible this will require a weather warning.

“Along with the rain, things will turn colder from Wednesday for all, with frost and some freezing fog possible. Overnight temperatures could dip to minus 4C to minus 6C in places prone to frost.”

Scattered showers will still push across Scotland and Northern Ireland through Tuesday as well as some English and Welsh coastlines, the forecaster said.

A man in his eighties died on Saturday after his car entered water at a ford in Colne, Lancashire, while a body was found in the search for Brian Perry, 75, who went missing while walking his dog near the Afon Conwy river in North Wales on the same day.

A severe flood warning, meaning there is danger to life, was still in place in Billing Aquadrome holiday park and the surrounding parks next to the River Nene in Northampton on Monday evening.

There were also 127 flood warnings in England and six flood warnings in Wales.