UK weather: Torrential rain to batter England for 24 hours as Met Office issues warning

Brits are set for torrential rain and flooding for 24 hours on Tuesday with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for most of the country.

A sunny spell last week has come to an abrupt halt and heavy downpours are now forecast from 9am Tuesday morning until around 7am on Wednesday.

The yellow warning for the "chance of very heavy rain" currently covers Tuesday from 6am until midnight.

Cloud will grow thicker on Tuesday morning and "an area of heavy and persistent rain" will reach by midday.

The ferocity of the downpour means that flooding is a possibility.

A Met Office spokesman said: "There is a chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings.

"Bus and train services will also be probably affected with journey times taking longer and the chance of cancellations.

"There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads.

Rain is forecast from 9am Tuesday morning until around 7am on Wednesday for most of England (PA)

"There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses."

The Met Office also warned of the potential for "some difficult driving conditions and the chance of road closures".

The yellow warning is mainly focused on central and southern England along with the north east.

"Areas of rain merging over south and central parts then moving northwards. Perhaps some very heavy rain here. Mostly light rain elsewhere. Becoming closer in south," said Met Office forecaster.

For the rest of Monday, though, the rain is predicted to keep away before gradually arriving in the evening.

The Met Office stated: "Dry for many eastern and northern parts with some sunny spells. Western parts cloudier with some mostly light rain. Warm for some south and eastern areas.

The rain is likely to ease gradually after Tuesday and there could be some fine spells for the second half of the week (PA)

"Some clear spells in eastern parts but mainly cloudy. Rain at times in west and areas of heavier rain arriving in far south later, this possibly thundery."

As the week progresses the weather will improve with some "fine conditions" insight.

"Rain and drizzle erratically clear from eastern England on Wednesday." continued the forecast.

"Generally fine conditions then prevailing until late Friday, when cloud, strengthening winds, and some heavy rain arrive across western areas."