Communities across England and Wales are bracing for further downpours as more than two hundred active flood alerts remain in place across the United Kingdom. This comes after the Met Office issued a fresh yellow weather warning for rain, spanning from noon until midnight on Monday. The warning covers extensive parts of southern Wales, alongside south-east and south-west England, where many areas are still recovering from the extensive flooding caused by the heavy rainfall following Storm Chandra in January 2026.
Met Office Issues Fresh Warning for Saturated Regions
The Met Office has indicated that between ten and fifteen millimetres of rain is likely to fall fairly widely across the affected regions, with some exposed locations potentially seeing twenty to thirty millimetres due to strong south to south-easterly winds. Meteorologist Tom Morgan noted that temperatures could reach double figures in parts of the Midlands, eastern England, and the south east, making it feel relatively pleasant for February. However, he warned that another area of rain is pushing in from the west through the afternoon, with winds strengthening, particularly in the south west.
Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales on High Alert
On Sunday evening, the Environment Agency issued ninety-six flood warnings across England, indicating that flooding is expected, along with a further two hundred and nineteen flood alerts in areas where flooding is possible. Natural Resources Wales has also issued four additional flood alerts. The Environment Agency estimates that at least three hundred properties have been recorded as flooded, with approximately sixteen thousand two hundred protected by flood defences so far.
Sarah Cook, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, stated that significant ongoing groundwater flooding impacts remain probable in parts of Dorset and Wiltshire. Minor impacts are also probable for sections of Hampshire over the next five days, and West Sussex from Saturday. The agency has mobilised teams across the country to check on flood defences, clear river blockages, and monitor river levels closely.
Travel Disruption and Further Flooding Risks
The Met Office has advised that homes, businesses, and roads may be flooded in areas covered by Monday's rain warning, with travel disruption expected. Morgan highlighted that the rain is falling on already saturated ground, increasing the likelihood of further flooding, particularly as the evening progresses. He cautioned that there could potentially be some surface water on the roads during Monday evening's rush hour, leading to difficult driving conditions in parts of Wales, central southern England, and towards the south east.
The winds, coming from a south-easterly direction, are affecting coasts that have been particularly impacted by recent storms, exacerbating the situation. As communities continue to recover from the aftermath of Storm Chandra, which caused notable flooding in areas like Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, the fresh warnings underscore the ongoing vulnerability to extreme weather events across the UK.
