The Met Office is concerned about flooding and has issued a weather warning for rain for Thursday, which covers most of southern England including Hampshire and Surrey
More than half of a standard January’s rainfall is expected to batter parts of the UK today.
The Met Office forecasters understand up to 50mph of rain will lash across sections of southern England, including parts of the capital, Surrey and Hampshire, in just a few hours. The band of low pressure will move eastwards throughout the day, becoming heaviest during late afternoon.
And the weather warning for rain in place until 10pm covers parts of London, Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex and other counties. Typically, Brighton sees around 75mph of rain fall across an average January but today will see as much as 50mph, more than half, in a short space of time.
Flooding is feared in those areas, including Brighton, and residents should prepare “an emergency kit” for this eventuality. This ought to contain insurance documents and list of contact numbers, a torch and spare batteries, and any prescription medicines among other essentials.
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Southampton, which is also covered by the warning, tends to see around 90mph of rain across a standard January. Likewise though, around half of that is forecast this afternoon.
The Met Office’s website reads: “An area of low pressure will migrate northeastwards across England on Thursday. Whilst the exact track is uncertain, rain will become persistent and heavy through the day, before clearing to the north through the evening and night.
“Accumulations of 20-30 mm are expected fairly widely, in some places falling in just a few hours, with the potential for 40-50 mm in a few isolated spots. Given the saturated ground, this may lead to some surface water flooding.”
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Some 15mm of rain fell on Tuesday at Port Ellen, Argyll and Bute, and showers were widespread on Wednesday night too. The accumulations have triggered the Environment Agency to issue flood warnings and alerts, including at three points along the River Severn. Two of these are in Gloucestershire, and another is further north in Worcestershire in the Midlands. It will be wet in the Midlands today too, particularly across parts of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.
There are several flood alerts on the outskirts of London, such as one for the River Mole and its tributaries from Kinnersley Manor to South Hersham in Surrey and concern for The Rivers Wid and Can in Essex.
The weekend looks unsettled too. The Met Office website reads: “Wind and rain clearing to the northeast on Friday with sunshine and showers following. Showers likely Saturday, but drier Sunday. Temperatures around average for most with overnight fog in places.”
