The Met Office has significantly widened a yellow weather warning for rain across England, forecasting heavy and persistent downpours likely to cause flooding and travel chaos on Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Warning Expanded Across Multiple Regions
Initially covering parts of London and southern England from 9am until 10pm, the warning has now been extended to include the Midlands, South West, and eastern regions. The forecaster warns that 20-30mm of rain is expected widely, with isolated spots potentially seeing 40-50mm.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon stated, "An area of low pressure is going to bring heavy and persistent rain to parts of southern England and will be accompanied by some gusty winds at times." He added there is a possibility of travel disruption and flooding in a few places.
Flood Warnings and Potential Impacts
In tandem with the Met Office alert, the Environment Agency has issued three active flood warnings where flooding is expected, alongside 40 flood alerts where it is possible. The public is advised to be prepared for several potential hazards:
- Flooding of a small number of properties.
- Disruption to bus and rail services, with longer journey times.
- Spray and flooding on roads, making driving conditions hazardous.
- Coastal gales, with gusts potentially reaching 50mph along exposed southern coasts.
Sky News meteorologist Dr Christopher England noted, "It'll be another very wet day in the south... bringing a risk of localised flooding and coastal gales near the eastern Channel."
Context of Recent Severe Weather
This latest warning follows a period of intense winter weather. Last week, Storm Goretti brought gusts of almost 100mph and a red wind warning to South West England. The severe conditions have already caused significant disruption, including a major incident in Kent and Sussex where around 30,000 properties lost water supplies due to burst pipes and power cuts.
Furthermore, the recent cold snap triggered the government's Cold Weather Payments scheme. This means eligible pensioners and low-income households in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will automatically receive £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather.
Looking ahead, the forecast suggests a drier day for much of northern England, Scotland, and Wales on Thursday, though northwest Scotland may see showers. Unsettled conditions with patchy cloud and showers are expected to continue into the weekend.
