Met Office storm warning as five regions on alert for ‘intense’ rain

BBC Weather: UK warned of thundery showers as rain continues

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Weather warnings over intense rain and strong winds have been issued by the Met Office. The severe weather will affect areas of London & South East England, North West England, South West England, Wales, and West Midlands tomorrow, Thursday, November 24.

The UK’s national weather service issued the yellow warning over a brief spell of heavy rain and strong, gusty winds that could cause some transport disruption and flooding.

Rain and wind are likely to impact the affected areas between 10am and 7pm tomorrow.

The forecast said that a narrow band of rain, heavy at times and perhaps briefly intense, will move eastwards late on Thursday morning and into the afternoon, clearing Kent during the evening.

10 to 15 mm is likely to fall in a 1 to 2-hour period, with around 20 mm in a few places.

With saturated ground, this is likely to lead to a fair amount of surface water on roads and flooding in one or two places.

Strong winds will be an additional hazard with gusts of 40-50 mph inland and perhaps briefly 60-70 mph along some exposed coasts, especially in Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Gwynedd and Anglesey.

During the downpour, spray and flooding on roads will probably make journey times longer, while some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely.

Delays are also expected for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges, while flooding of a few homes and businesses is also possible.

Guidance issued from the Met Office dictates what people should be wary of during such weather conditions: 

Before the storm

• Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything else that could be blown into windows and other glazing and break them
• Close and securely fasten doors and windows, particularly those on the windward side of the house, and especially large doors such as those on garages
• Park vehicles in a garage, if available; otherwise keep them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences
• Close and secure loft trapdoors with bolts, particularly if roof pitch is less than 30°
• If the house is fitted with storm shutters over the windows then ensure that these are closed and fastened
• If chimney stacks are tall and in poor condition, move beds away from areas directly below them

During the storm

• Stay indoors as much as possible
• If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees
• Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences – if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side
• Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress
• If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you
• Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you
• Take care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges, or high open roads, delay your journey or find alternative routes if possible
• Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or are a high sided vehicle
• Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary

After the storm

• Be careful not to touch any electrical/telephone cables that have been blown down or are still hanging
• Do not walk too close to walls, buildings and trees as they could have been weakened
• Make sure that any vulnerable neighbours or relatives are safe and help them make arrangements for any repairs

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