Shoppers hoping to take advantage of the Boxing Day sales are likely to face a deluge of rain across parts of the UK, the Met Office has said.
Christmas Day's clear skies will turn to cloud, wind and rain today, with the south west of England experiencing the heaviest downpours.
The Environment Agency has issued 36 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 96 flood alerts - where flooding is possible.
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said a band of rain moving from the south west to the north east of England will ensure that "pretty much everywhere" will see some wet weather on Thursday.
He said: "For most places there is going to be a lot of cloud and some rain around too. The heaviest will be in south-west England and Wales.
"Because of the amount of rain we have seen this month there could also be some localised flooding."
About 30mm (1.2ins) of rain is expected to fall in some parts of south-west England, while other regions could see up to 20mm (0.8ins) throughout the day, Mr Burkill said.
Coastal areas in the south west are also forecast to be hit by winds of up to 50mph.
Despite the bad weather, temperatures are likely to be around 12C in the south and 5C further north.
Boxing Day shoppers in London will see the worst of the rain in the morning, before the weather clears later in the day.
Met Office meteorologist Burkill said a band of rain is expected to move from the southwest to the northeast of England.
A band of rain is expected to move across most of the UK through the day, but is likely to ease as the afternoon progresses, especially in central England, says MeteoGroup UK.
However further rain will push into the south-west of England and south Wales later in the evening, while moderate southwesterly winds will persist.
Forecasters then predict a wet start to the night for the west of the UK and Scotland, with rain, sometimes heavy in nature, about.
The rest of the country will be cloudy with mist, while heavy rain will approach the west of Scotland around midnight, before moving inland in the early hours leading to showers for all of the UK into the early hours.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Intermittent rain affecting many southern, western and central areas. Rain heavy in places and perhaps prolonged but a few drier, brighter interludes. The northeast may be drier for most of the day but rather chilly.
Tonight:
Further rain moving northeastwards across the UK and becoming heavy and persistent across western Scotland. Mist and low cloud developing across many central and southern areas.
Friday:
Rain clearing across England, Wales and much of Northern Ireland to give a mainly dry, mild and rather cloudy afternoon. Rain across central and western Scotland with strong winds.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Rain, heavy at times, will continue to affect western Scotland, becoming more widespread across the north during Monday. Mostly dry and bright elsewhere. Mild and breezy.
