UK weather: Met Office issues yellow warning for heavy rain causing flooding, travel chaos and power cuts
A YELLOW weather alert for heavy rain has been put in place with forecasters warning flooding, travel chaos and power cuts are on the way.
The Met Office are telling parts of the UK to brace for heavy downpours until 10am this morning.
The east coast of Northern Ireland has been under the warning since 6pm yesterday evening.
Forecasters say: “Persistent rain will bring some impact to travel and infrastructure.”
It means communities may be cut off by flooded roads and it could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
Meanwhile possible power cuts are on the cards and homes and businesses could be flooded.
And the fast flowing deep flood water could cause a danger to life.
Elsewhere in the UK, showery rain will also move east across England and Wales later today.
It’s thought there is sunshine ahead for many, but it will be followed by heavy showers.
Tomorrow, Brits in the south will see hail and thunder with possible strong winds.
It comes as the Easter Bank Holiday weekend is set to be a washout.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said it will be “unsettled across the majority of the UK” for the rest of the week.
FIVE DAY FORECAST
TODAY
Rain, with hill snow, will move north across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with brighter spells and showers following. Meanwhile, a band of showery rain will move east across England and Wales. Sunshine ahead, and heavy showers following. Generally rather windy.
TONIGHT
Clear spells and scattered locally heavy showers at first. Much of Scotland becoming dry overnight. However, showers continuing across Northern Ireland, and outbreaks of rain developing across England and Wales.
THURSDAY
Some bright spells, especially across Scotland at first. However, showery rain moving north across most areas during the day. Some hail and thunder in the south, where also very windy.
FRIDAY TO SUNDAY
Bright spells, but breezy with plenty of showers on Good Friday. Showers more scattered on Saturday and Easter Sunday, and feeling warmer in the sunny spells and given lighter winds.
The weather service said: “Through the bank holiday weekend and into the following week, unsettled or changeable weather remains the most likely outcome.
“All areas are likely to see further rain or showers at times, with some drier spells in between, but wet weather will tend to favour the southwest while northern parts remain a bit drier on average.”