More rain is to hit the UK later this week, after downpours led to a yellow weather warning being issued for parts of Scotland.
Forecasters say that the weather will remain unsettled until Friday, with rain continuing. It will be heavier in the west, with a weather front bringing wind that could see gale warnings issued for coastal areas in Scotland.
Friday will be drier and brighter, with temperatures continuing to be mild for the time of year. The weather will then return to unsettled rain and wind for the weekend.
Tom Morgan, meteorologist at the Met Office said: “It’s pretty unsettled, wet and windy at times so there are a number of rain warnings in place in the next 24 hours, affecting two areas of Wales and Scotland.
“Higher ground will be more affected, Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the Highlands of Scotland.”
There are fears of travel disruption because of flooding caused by heavy rain. The warning issued by the Met Office for rain will expire at 6am on Wednesday, as downpours along with thawing snow could cause localised flooding.
Later on Tuesday, a yellow alert comes into force in southern and north-west Wales, with a warning of heavy rain between 7pm that evening and 3am on Wednesday.
A total of 17 flood warnings were in place for England on Tuesday night, with many in the Dorset area.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 13 flood alerts around Scotland.
Police have advised motorists to check guidance for driving in adverse weather conditions.
The yellow warning covers Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, the Stirling area, Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire, as well as part of Argyll and Bute and the Highlands.
“The west of the UK will bear the brunt of the conditions,” Morgan said, as a series of low pressure fronts from the Atlantic will continue to affect the UK.
“We can expect some flooding as the ground is quite saturated already after a wet period in the last couple of weeks, so rain will run off the ground quite quickly.
“There will be some brighter and drier spells on the way. Friday will be the best day of the week with slightly nicer weather,” Morgan said, adding that next week will see more unsettled weather returning.
The west coast mainline between Glasgow and Carlisle will remain shut for repairs until 6 January after flooding caused “significant damage” to an embankment.
