'Danger to life' Met Office weather warning issued for Somerset

Toby Codd

22 May 2024 at 2:04 am·2-min read

Heavy rain is forecast -Credit:Derby Telegraph

A severe weather warning for rain has been issued which covers parts of Somerset today. The Met Office has warned of 'danger to life' flooding and travel disruption as downpours batter the West Country.

The warning began at 0.15am this morning (Wednesday, May 22) and is in place until 6am tomorrow (Thursday, May 23). As well as areas of Somerset, it covers the Midlands, the north of England and parts of Scotland.

The Met Office says: "Heavy rain may cause some flooding and disruption to travel." Forecasters have outlined what to expect during the warning:

Some communities may be cut off by flooded roads
Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
Homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life
Delays or cancellations to train and bus services are possible

Expanding on the warning, the Met Office said: "An area of rain is expected to develop across eastern and central England and then move northwestwards to affect northern England and north Wales during Wednesday afternoon. The area of rain could then become slow moving, heavy and persistent, especially over north facing hills, before clearing during Thursday morning.

"There is a lot of uncertainty over exactly where the heaviest rain will occur and this warning is likely to be updated. Many places will see 30-40 mm of rain, while a few areas may receive 60-80 mm. There is also a small chance that a few upland areas could see much higher totals, in the order of 100-150 mm."

Met Office 5-day forecast for the South West

Today: A mixture of bright or sunny spells and showers, with patchy rain in the east. Showers in the south could turn heavy at times with the chance of becoming thundery with hail and lightning. Breezier. Maximum temperature 19 °C.

Tonight: Heavy showers easing though remaining rather cloudy in the north and east with some patchy rain. Drier in the south. Minimum temperature 11 °C.

Thursday: Largely dry on Thursday with some sunnier spells. Rain perhaps returning to some by the evening. Winds easing. Maximum temperature 18 °C.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Largely dry on Friday with a few showers around. Fine and dry to start on Saturday with perhaps some thicker cloud and rain arriving later. Sunshine and showers on Sunday.

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Met Office 5-day forecast for the South West

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