Everything to know as Met Office issues amber weather warning

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for some areas of the UK for rain

Everything to know as Met Office weather warnings in place for rain:

• As we approach the end of January unsettled conditions continue to cause disruption across the country. The Met Office has issued weather warnings for some areas of the UK for rain, with an amber alert in place across parts of the Scotland. The wet conditions come after a short period of more settled weather, following the severe impact of Storm Goretti, which wreaked havoc across the country as snow, ice, rain and wind all gripped the nation.

• Sharing insight into the new weather warnings, Met Office chief forecaster Dan Harris said: “Rain will turn increasingly persistent and heavy late on Wednesday and through much of Thursday for parts of Scotland, which has resulted in amber and yellow warnings for rain being issued. Within the amber warning area, some areas of high ground exposed to the strong south easterly wind are likely to see in excess of 100 mm of rain, whilst 50-80 mm is more probable for many places within the broader yellow warning.”

• Warnings highlight the likelihood of fast-flowing or deep floodwater, travel disruption and the chance of some communities being cut off due to flooding. The Met Office warned: “It is not safe to drive or walk or swim through floodwater, avoid it where possible and if you are affected by fast flowing or deep water call 999 and wait for help.”

• It is not only Scotland impacted by the wet weather, the forecasters said today, Thursday, January 22, will be an unsettled day for many. It’s outlook for the UK tomorrow, Friday, January 23, said the country “could see more wet and windy weather arrive from the south west, though the exact track and timing of the system is still uncertain at present”.

• The areas covered by the amber weather alert today are Central, Tayside and Fife, and Grampian. The forecast said: “Heavy rain is likely to cause some flooding and disruption on Thursday.” The alert has been active from 12am and will remain in place until 6pm.

• Further detail of the warning provided by the Met Office added: “Rain will be persistent and heavy during Thursday with widespread accumulations of 60-80 mm likely and as much as 100-120 mm over high ground. Event totals since Wednesday evening may exceed 150 mm in a few places. This is expected to lead to some surface water and river flooding across the area.”

• Yellow weather warnings for rain are also in place for Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, Northern Ireland, South West England and Wales. In its long range forecast from Monday January 26 until Wednesday February 4, it said: “It is likely to turn somewhat colder through this period, bringing the risk of some snow, most likely across hills in Scotland and northern England, but perhaps extending to other areas with time.”

You can read further details here: Met Office issues amber and yellow weather warnings for rain