Severe weather continues to wreak havoc across the UK this week, with heavy rain, snow, and flooding causing significant disruptions. The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for various regions as storm systems sweep through the country.
On Sunday, heavy rain led to flooding predominantly across parts of Wales, prompting the Met Office to issue warnings from 15:00 GMT until 06:00 Monday. The forecaster predicted persistent and heavy rainfall of between 50mm (1.9in) and 100mm (4in), increasing the risk of surface water and river flooding. Wind gusts over 70mph (112km/h) compounded the chaos, making travel treacherous.
Natural Resources Wales has responded by issuing one flood warning and eight alerts, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Disruptions to railway services were reported between Penrhiwceiber and Aberdare, with flooding at Fernhill leading to alternative bus arrangements for commuters. Likewise, the A4042 was closed due to floodwaters between Llanellen and the A40 at Hardwick Roundabout, illustrating the widespread impact of the weather.
The amber rain warning covered multiple areas including Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, and Swansea. Police reported several road closures, particularly on the A4086 at Llanberis, due to rising water levels. Responding to the threat, local authorities distributed thousands of sandbags to key flood-prone areas and heightened emergency readiness. “We have pumps deployed and inspectors on site,” stated Council leader Andrew Morgan, emphasizing the proactive measures being taken.
Meanwhile, the river levels have surged alarmingly. Mick Antoniw, MS for Pontypridd, reassured the public via social media about the heightened levels of the River Taff but confirmed proactive measures were taken with floodgates installed at key points. Residents were also urged to relocate vehicles from high-risk areas as part of the community’s flood prevention strategies. Such local initiatives highlight the collaborative efforts of communities and authorities during extreme weather.
With the worst of the weekend rain subsiding, new forecasts show snow is expected to sweep across the UK on Wednesday morning after unseasonably warm temperatures last week reached 16C (61F) in some regions. The Met Office weather map predicts snowfall beginning around 6am, primarily affecting Kendal and Dumfries. Ice warnings are also pending as increasing cold fronts move through.
Meteorologist Honor Criswick indicated some light hail might also settle across the Midlands and northern regions, including Birmingham and Manchester, as the temperature drops significantly. A slight warm-up is expected later, with temperatures climbing up to around 7C.
Those living over elevations of 400-450m are likely to witness accumulating snow, particularly across the Pennines and Southern Uplands. Snowfall was corroborated, albeit modestly, with no serious weather warning issued, marking it as merely chilly rather than critically hazardous.
The forecasts are characterized by notable fluctuations, indicating heavy rain expected across Southwestern England. A sequence of showers and thunderstorms is also possible as weather fronts migrate eastward.
Wednesday's developments will present stark contrasts; beginning with downpours for most but gradually shifting to clearer and brighter conditions as the day progresses. Clare Nasir, another Met Office meteorologist, elaborated, “A heavy spell of rain will sweep across the country, with hill snow anticipated.” She indicated, “The situation could lead to some thunder breaking through the rain, highlighted by brief intense squalls.”
The Environment Agency underscored the gravity of the situation, issuing numerous flood alerts and warnings across affected regions, indicating the storm's severity from Kent through to Cornwall, and up to Wales and Northern Ireland.
Overall, the continuing threat of flooding and snowfall implements caution among travel and daily activities across the region. The public is urged to remain vigilant of weather forecasts and heed emergency alerts issued by local authorities.
Moving forward, the 5-day weather outlook forecasts milder conditions with increasing intervals of sunshine on Thursday and Friday, juxtaposed with potential light showers, alongside anticipated frosty nights as already impactful weather patterns transition through March.
Still, locals remain on edge as weather predictions propose more rainfall will slowly migrate southward through Saturday, with the north encapsulating the brunt of adverse weather as storms loom over the weekend.