Millions of Brits set to be battered by downpours on Easter Monday
If you’re headed home today after the long weekend, you might want to check the flood warnings in place for the UK.
Some ten warnings are in place across England, with heavy rain expected to see rivers rising to potentially dangerous levels.
Forecasters expect heavy rain across the south on Easter Monday, with the risk of hail and thunder.
Areas at particular risk of flooding include the River Brue in Somerset and River Severn in Gloucestershire.
The warning for the River Brue, issued by the government, says: ‘We are monitoring rainfall and river levels closely and staff have been checking rivers in the area for blockages.
‘Start acting on your flood plan if you have one and consider activating any property flood protection products you may have. Please do not attempt to walk, cycle or drive through flood water.’
Over two million car journeys for leisure will be made by car on Easter Monday today as people finish the bank holiday and head back to reality, according to the RAC and transport analysis company Inrix.
So the roads will be very busy, which coupled with bad weather could lead to a miserable trip for motorists.
The lengthiest delays are expected to be between 10am and 12pm, and drivers have been advised to wait until later in the day and travel in the evening.
Liam Eslick, a forecaster at the Met Office, said there is a ‘risk of localised flooding’ in some areas.
Mr Eslick said: ‘Being the bank holiday weekend, people are travelling around at this time, so we’d recommend checking road coverage if people are driving or any bus and train timetables to see if there are any cancellations.’
Showers today could bring between 5mm and 15mm of rainfall.
Drivers are urged to reduce their speeds, as rain can reduce visibility, and give themselves more time to brake on slippery road surfaces – suggesting a gap of at least four seconds between traffic.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to see much brighter spells.
The outlook will remain unsettled after the long weekend, with low pressure dominating and spells of heavy rain likely.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.