Forecasters have warned of potential widespread and dangerous flooding in south Wales as parts of the UK face heavy rain and a plunge in temperatures this weekend.
Weather warnings are in place for “heavy and persistent” rain stretching from the south-west of Britain, across the whole of Wales and through much of the Midlands, to northern England.
South Wales is likely to be worst affected. An amber warning was issued and the Met Office told residents to expect “fast-flowing or deep floodwater”. It said there was a strong chance some communities would be cut off and there was potential for power cuts.
“We want people to be aware that flood water can be extremely dangerous, and people should not attempt to walk or drive through it unless instructed by the emergency services,” it said.
A Met Office spokeswoman, Nicola Maxey, told PA Media that a low-pressure system over the Azores was expected to come across to the UK, bringing widespread rain with it.
“The areas most at risk are the areas that are within the warning areas, so you’ve got parts of Cumbria and the Pennines,” she said. “We’re looking at 30mm to 50mm of rain quite widely, with perhaps 120mm over higher ground for the warning in south Wales.”
The yellow warnings of rain covering northern and south western parts of the UK begin from 3pm on Friday and last for 24 hours. The amber warning for Wales begins from 6pm on Friday and lasts until 11am on Saturday.
The first widespread frost of the season is also anticipated during the weekend, as a burst of polar maritime air brings colder temperatures to northern parts of Britain on Saturday and the rest of the country on Sunday and into next week.
Maxey said areas where that cold air met the warmer air would receive the heaviest rainfall. “Because of the colder air, there’s a possibility that some of the rain may fall as snow, but only over very high ground in the north,” she said. “You might see a dusting on top of the Pennines, and you may see a centimetre or two over the mountains in Scotland.”
The northern half of the country should expect temperatures in the high single figures at the weekend, with southern parts forecast to reach low double figures – temperatures that are typical for this time of year.
Maxey said: “It’s been relatively mild, so this will be the first cold weather of the season.”
