Britons are being urged to brace for further bouts of heavy and persistent rainfall, following a spell of severe weather that blanketed parts of the country in dense fog and grounded flights.
Widespread Weather Warnings and Expected Impacts
Forecasters have confirmed that a low-pressure system is responsible for bringing extreme conditions to much of the United Kingdom. The unsettled weather is predicted to continue into Thursday, bringing with it the risk of localised flooding. In response, the Met Office has issued a series of yellow weather warnings.
On Tuesday, a warning for heavy rain covered southeast England and parts of Wales. The highest rainfall totals, predicted to be between 40-60mm, were expected over the high ground of Dartmoor and the hills of south Wales.
This alert remains active for Thursday, with South Wales and Dartmoor again likely to bear the brunt, anticipating 40-50mm of rain accompanied by strong winds. A separate yellow warning for Thursday also targets England's south coast, including Portsmouth and Brighton, where heavier rain is forecast after midday. While The Downs could see 40-50mm, most areas are expected to receive 15-25mm.
Immediate Travel Disruption and Further Outlook
The severe conditions have already caused significant travel problems. On Wednesday morning, heavy fog across southern England led to the cancellation of at least seven flights from London City Airport, though normal service resumed by 10am. A separate yellow fog warning was in place until that time for large swathes of central and northern England.
Sky News Weather meteorologist Dr Chris England stated that more rain would spread from the west eastwards on Wednesday afternoon, raising the risk of further travel disruptions. He explained, "The rain, heaviest over south-western hills and falling on already saturated ground, will bring a risk of localised flooding and travel disruption, especially to parts of southern Wales and the West Country."
Dr England added that after a drier Friday, another band of rain is expected on Saturday, spreading across all of Britain from the south-west and bringing a renewed risk of disruption, particularly to southern England.
Christmas Week Forecast: Drier, Colder, But White Christmas Unlikely
Looking further ahead, the Met Office predicts that high pressure will build into next week, ushering in drier and colder conditions for the week of Christmas. This change is likely to bring probable overnight frosts, mist, and further fog patches.
However, the forecaster indicated that significant cold weather now looks "less likely". While it is still too early to confirm definitively, this reduces the prospect of widespread snow on Christmas Day. The Met Office has stated it will update its forecasts as more information becomes available.
