UK homeowners are braced for flooding and nightmare commutes as forecasters warn that some parts of the country will be hit by a month’s worth of rain today.
In some areas, 80mm of rain is possible, exceeding England’s average August total of 69.3mm, says The Telegraph.
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“The heaviest rain is most likely over high ground, where some places may see 60-80mm. Strong winds are also expected with 30-40mph gusts likely around exposed coasts and hills,” said the Met Office in The Guardian.
The weather service has warned that transport could be disrupted and flooding of some homes and businesses can’t be ruled out, the Telegraph reports. The hardest rainfall is expected to come during peak travel time on Friday afternoon, making driving difficult for people heading home for the weekend.
Helen Roberts, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “There is some pretty wet and quite windy weather on the way for Friday, a deep area of low pressure pushing from the Atlantic that is going to bring a spell of rain for all.
“We have a warning out for that rainfall.”
The warning comes after severe flooding at the end of July, which affected parts of central, northwest and northeast England, says Sky News.
At least 11 people had to be rescued from flooding in the Cheshire town of Poynton, and many homes were flooded in Yorkshire, leaving people stranded in their cars.
But better weather may be on the way, says the Express. A build-up of high pressure should allow dry and bright weather to develop in time for the August bank holiday weekend.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “There are hints of high pressure rebuilding with something more settled in the forecast,” the Express reports.