Residents across large swathes of the UK are bracing for a weekend of heavy rain, strong winds, and the potential for significant disruption, as the Met Office issues yellow weather warnings for much of northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The warnings, which stretch from the North East of England through Yorkshire, Leeds, the Lothians, and into parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, are set to come into effect from 9am on Saturday, September 20, 2025, and remain in place until 6am on Sunday, September 21.
The Met Office has forecast that persistent and, at times, heavy rain will sweep across the affected regions, with rainfall totals expected to reach 20–40mm widely. However, some areas could see as much as 75–100mm, particularly during the later hours of the weather event. According to Edinburgh Live, the warning covers not only Edinburgh but also East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, the Scottish Borders, Falkirk, and Fife. The risk is compounded by the likelihood of strong, gusty winds and even thunder, especially from mid-Saturday onwards.
In the North East, the story is much the same. ChronicleLive reports that by around 8:30pm on Friday, September 19, rain of up to 4mm per hour will blanket the entire region, persisting until at least 10:30pm before a brief respite. The showers are set to return in the early hours of Saturday, initially targeting Northumberland but quickly spreading to Newcastle and surrounding areas. By 1pm, the rain band is expected to sweep across the whole region again, delivering sustained downpours until at least 10pm.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin explained the broader meteorological context, noting, "As we head into the weekend, a jet stream will make its way towards the UK. All eyes will be on an area of low pressure and how it really spins up in relation to the jet stream likely to cross the UK, generating some heavy bursts of rain quite widely through Saturday and into Sunday before starting to clear away." He also highlighted that southern parts of the country could experience a warm, humid feel on Saturday, with the added risk that "humidity could spark some heavy, even thundery, showers along with the weather fronts providing more persistent rain over parts of England and Wales and southern Scotland before all starting to clear away."
The yellow weather warning is not confined to Scotland and the North East. The Independent details that the alert covers northeast and northwest England, southwest Scotland, Strathclyde, Yorkshire and Humber, Central, Tayside and Fife, and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, particularly County Antrim and County Down, up to 80mm of rain is expected from midday Saturday until 3am Sunday. The Met Office has cautioned that flooding and power cuts may occur in homes, businesses, and on the roads, and that there is a small chance of fast-flowing or deep water that could pose a "danger to life."
Leeds is also under a 21-hour yellow alert, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post. The warning, which covers north, west, south, and central Leeds, is expected to bring persistent and sometimes heavy rain, with totals matching the 20–40mm range seen elsewhere and isolated spots possibly seeing up to 100mm. From mid-Saturday, strong gusty winds and the threat of thunder will further heighten the risk of disruption. By the early hours of Sunday, the heaviest rain is forecast to have cleared from Wales, with conditions gradually easing in northern England and Scotland by dawn. However, showers and strong winds are expected to persist through Sunday.
The impact of these weather conditions could be significant. The Met Office has warned residents to prepare for the possibility of power cuts and the loss of other services to homes and businesses. There is also a small chance that some homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to buildings. Where flooding does occur, delays or cancellations to train and bus services are possible, and spray and standing water could make driving conditions treacherous, potentially leading to road closures. In the most severe cases, fast-flowing or deep floodwater could present a danger to life.
Advice from the Met Office is clear: "Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area." They also advise checking road conditions, especially if travel is necessary, and preparing a flood plan and emergency flood kit if your property is at risk.
The local forecasts paint a picture of unsettled and changeable weather across the UK. In the North East, Thursday, September 18, is expected to start fine and dry, with patchy rain and strong winds in the afternoon and a maximum temperature of 20°C. Overnight, low cloud and outbreaks of heavy rain are likely, with winds remaining strong and temperatures dropping to a minimum of 15°C. Friday will be unsettled, featuring heavy showers and longer spells of rain, especially in the west, although blustery winds should ease later in the day. The outlook for Saturday through Monday is for continued changeable conditions, with strong winds, outbreaks of rain, and lingering low cloud. By Monday, the cloud is expected to lift, leaving a mainly dry day.
Leeds is forecast to be slightly drier locally, but still faces changeable weather on Saturday and Sunday, with strong winds, outbreaks of rain, and low lingering clouds. Temperatures are expected to hover around 18°C on Saturday, dropping to 14°C on Sunday.
In Edinburgh and the Lothians, the persistent rain and strong winds from Saturday morning through early Sunday are likely to cause the greatest disruption, especially given the warning of potential flooding and transport delays. The risk of thunder adds an unpredictable element to the weekend’s weather, making it all the more important for residents to heed official advice and stay informed as conditions evolve.
As the UK heads into this unsettled weekend, the combination of heavy rain, strong winds, and the risk of flooding serves as a stark reminder of the power of autumn weather systems driven by jet streams and areas of low pressure. With yellow warnings in place and the potential for medium-impact disruption, the message from forecasters is one of vigilance, preparedness, and caution.
