Storm Dennis-hit regions on alert as month worth of rainfall could fall in next 24 hours
Parts of the UK could see up to 100mm of rainfall just days after Storm Dennis caused widespread damage.
Thursday 20 February 2020 04:49, UK
More wet weather is on the way as parts of the UK could see a month's worth of rainfall in the next 24 hours.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings across four consecutive days this week as flood-hit areas of the country are still reeling from the damage caused by Storm Dennis.
Regions already battling with the aftermath of several days worth of rain have been told to expect more downpours.
Parts of North and South Wales, northern England and Scotland are anticipated to receive further deluges from Wednesday, while the Environment Agency has said there is a "heightened flood risk" in the Midlands, which has suffered some of the worst flooding recently.
Six danger to life flood warnings are also in place around the Rivers Lugg, Severn and Wye.
There are currently more than 110 flood warnings and 180 lower category alerts in effect from the agency.
Yellow warnings for rain are in place from Wednesday afternoon until mid-morning Thursday in south west Scotland, north west England and Wales.
From early morning until 9pm on Friday there is a yellow rain warning in place in Scotland and a wind warning in place for Yorkshire.
A yellow rain warning in Yorkshire is also in place from midday Friday until 6am Saturday.
According to the Met Office's Craig Snell, parts of the UK could experience up to 100mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours.
He said: "In the worst case scenario we could see a month's worth of rain.
"It is more the fact that quite a lot of the UK has seen a wet winter. Ordinarily, 50mm of rain would give us a wet day, rivers would be able to cope.
"But the ground is saturated [due to the persistent, heavy rainfall] so it is causing problems."
England has already experienced 141% of its average February rainfall this month, the Environment Agency said, with river levels setting records in the Colne, Ribble, Calder, Aire, Trent, Severn, Wye, Lugg, and Derwent.
People living the towns of Ironbridge and Bridgnorth in Shropshire have been told to evacuate, while people living in Bewdley, Worcestershire, have been warned that flood barriers at Beales Corner may not be able to cope with increasing water levels.
Meanwhile, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has been visiting more than 1,000 homes and businesses affected after Storm Dennis caused record river levels.
Recalling the "emotional strain" from the residents whose homes have been "completely devastated", he said: "It's a very telling experience.
"People say to you - it isn't just a matter of replacing a sofa or getting a new fridge.
"These are homes in which people have spent their lives, their families have been brought up in them, their futures have been invested in them.
"Suddenly it's all in a state of ruin."