Across the United Kingdom, residents are bracing for a relentless spell of wet and unsettled weather, as a series of powerful Atlantic weather systems continue to drench much of the country. The Met Office has issued multiple yellow weather warnings for rain, particularly across Wales, and is urging people in the hardest-hit areas to prepare for potential flooding and travel disruption. The warnings come as parts of the UK have already received nearly double their average rainfall for September, with Cardiff, for example, surpassing its total summer rainfall in just the first half of the month, according to BBC Weather.
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, a huge band of rain swept across the UK, prompting the Met Office to issue yellow rain warnings for both northwest and southwest Wales. The first warning, in effect from 3am to 12pm, covered parts of northwest Wales, while the second, from 12am to 11pm, targeted the south and southwest. The heaviest downpours were expected across central areas, with Wales particularly prone to intense rainfall. Some locations, especially over higher ground, faced the risk of seeing up to 50mm of rain in just six hours, and the total could reach 70mm in the most affected spots. Over the hills, rainfall amounts could soar to between 100 and 150mm, raising the specter of localized flooding and hazardous driving conditions.
Residents in 15 areas across Wales—including Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea, and Gwynedd—were specifically advised to prepare emergency kits. The Met Office’s guidance was clear: “Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit... People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items,” as reported by the Mirror.
The impact of the weather front was felt widely. In Merseyside, heavy and persistent rain greeted residents on Tuesday morning, September 17, but conditions were set to turn brighter by midday, with some sunny spells predicted into the afternoon. The Met Office forecast for the North West noted, “Heavy, persistent rain clears eastwards through this morning, with some bright or sunny spells developing through the afternoon. A few spells of rain will linger in places, and staying breezy for most. Feeling rather humid. Maximum temperature 20C.”
Yet, the respite was brief. The forecast for Thursday, September 18, called for largely cloudy weather with outbreaks of rain—heavy at times—and increasing windiness, especially along hills and exposed coasts. The maximum temperature was expected to reach 22°C, and the coming week promised “changeable” conditions with periods of wind and rain throughout. Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, warned, “The ground has started to become fairly wet over recent weeks and it will not take a huge amount more for there to be some surface water, potentially some flooding issues as we go towards the middle part of the week.”
Birmingham and the Midlands, though not under yellow warnings on Wednesday, were nonetheless experiencing heavy rain. The region had already endured gusts up to 80mph overnight on Sunday, September 14, and the Met Office warned that a wet few weeks lay ahead. Thursday was set to be cloudy and humid, with temperatures peaking at 22°C, followed by a weekend of showers or longer spells of rain. The long-range forecast for the UK painted a picture of unsettled weather, with rain or showers widespread across central, southern, and eastern areas, and the possibility of strong winds. The Midlands and Wales, in particular, were expected to remain wet into the weekend, with the weather front possibly extending into southwest England.
Scotland, meanwhile, was forecast to see its wet and windy weather clear to more showery and colder conditions. By the weekend, it could even be cold enough for some wintriness over the very tops of the Scottish mountains. Northern Ireland, close to the main weather front, was expected to experience wet conditions in the far southeast, but overall, it would likely be less wet than in the previous weeks.
Despite the widespread rain and warnings, there were glimmers of hope on the horizon. The Met Office’s long-range outlook suggested that high pressure is expected to return to the UK during the final week of September, bringing a much more settled spell of weather with some sunshine. “Despite the ongoing unsettled conditions, there are encouraging signs of change. A ridge of high pressure is building to the west of the UK, and as the jet stream shifts, this high pressure is expected to move across the country during the final week of September. This transition could bring an end to the relentless cycle of low-pressure systems, offering a drier interlude and a welcome break from the wet and windy weather that has dominated so far,” the Met Office stated.
Looking ahead to October, the forecast remains cautiously optimistic. From October 1 to 15, the UK is likely to enjoy “some occasional periods of dry weather,” according to the Met Office. However, forecasters warn that areas of low pressure could still impact parts of the country, leading to wetter conditions at times. Temperatures are expected to fluctuate either side of, but often close to, the seasonal average. The Met Office added, “Into next week, a northwest-southeast split is most likely, with some further rain or showers in southern and eastern areas, closest to an area of low pressure, whilst the best chance of longer, drier spells will be towards the north and northwest, where some patchy fog and rural frost are possible. It will also turn colder, as a northerly flow becomes established for a time. Later in the period, more widely drier and settled conditions could develop as high pressure becomes slightly more influential, although probably still with a few coastal showers. Temperatures should gradually return closer to average.”
For now, though, the UK remains firmly in the grip of autumn’s wettest moods. With persistent rain, strong winds, and the risk of flooding, residents across the country are urged to stay alert, heed official warnings, and prepare for further disruptions before the long-awaited break in the weather arrives. As the Met Office’s forecasts make clear, while the rain may soon ease, the legacy of this September’s deluge will linger in sodden fields and swollen rivers for weeks to come.
