UK weather: Storm Mathis batters Brits with wind and rain as yellow weather warning sparks travel chaos
BRITS are bracing for heavy rain and high winds as Storm Mathis batters the UK, with yellow weather warnings suggesting travel chaos ahead.
Delays to rail, air, road and ferry routes are “likely”, according to the Met Office, as gusts of up to 48mph sweep in from the West.
The storm, named by the French forecaster Météo-France, has sparked two yellow weather warnings, one for rain and a wider one for wind.
The rain warning came into effect at 6am this morning and will last until 6pm tonight, covering most of Cornwall and parts of Devon.
In these areas, forecasters predict that heavy rain will lead to “some travel disruption and a chance of flooding in a few places”.
Bus and train services will “probably” be affected, while spray and some flooding on roads are expected to increase journey times.
There are 30 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is likely, active in England and one in Wales.
They cover areas including the East coast of Dorset, the area around the River Blythe in Warwickshire and rivers in South Devon and East Somerset.
The wind warning, meanwhile, covers all of Cornwall, parts of Devon, most of the South Coast and southern Wales.
It was activated at 9pm last night and is set to last until midday today.
The high winds are expected to delay most forms of transport and also warns of delays for high sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges.
Temperatures are forecast to stay mild throughout the day, with most areas seeing around 10 or 11C.
But it will be wet and windy for most of the South and Midlands, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to be spared the worst of the storm.
The Met’s forecast for today states: “Rain or showers, heavy at times, affecting southern and central areas.
“Windy here with coastal gales in the South. Chilly in the North East with low cloud, drizzle and hill fog.
“Some sunny spells, mainly across north-western parts.”
Going into the weekend, rain is expected to continue in Northern Ireland, Wales and the South before beginning to fade on Sunday as sunny spells break through from the East.