Storm Bert: Somerset braced for heavy rain and winds with double weather warning

Somerset is braced for a deluge of heavy rain and high winds this weekend as Storm Bert hits. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain from 6am tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, until 11.45pm on Sunday, November 24, which covers the whole of the county.

A second yellow weather warning for wind covering southern parts of Somerset is in place from 3pm tomorrow (Saturday, November 23) until 9pm on Sunday. The Exeter-based forecaster said that conditions in coastal areas are likely to become dangerous as strong winds hit. Some exposed headlands could see gales of speeds of up to 70mph.

The Met Office is warning of heavy rainfall which could lead to travel disruption and flooding. The downpours are expected to arrive in Somerset at around 3am tomorrow morning.

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The rain will then last throughout the day before persisting into Sunday. The weather is expected to clear by 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

The Met Office said: "Heavy rainfall will affect much of the UK this weekend. Rain is expected to develop during Saturday morning across southwest and southern England, becoming particularly heavy and persistent overnight and into Sunday.

"Accumulations of 50-75 mm are expected to fall fairly widely during this time. There is a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100-150 mm. Strong southerly winds will accompany the heavy rain and may locally exacerbate impacts. Rain will become less extensive through Sunday as it erratically clears eastwards."

Forecasters have outlined what to expect during the warning:

• There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses

• There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings

• Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services

• Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures

• There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Holley said: “Storm Bert marks a shift to much milder air and wintry hazards will gradually diminish through the weekend, but heavy snowfall is expected across parts of northern England and Scotland for a time on Saturday, especially over higher ground, and warnings are in place.”

“Heavy rain through Saturday and Sunday, especially in southern and western parts of the UK, will also bring impacts for some with a number of warnings in place. We expect 50-75 mm of rainfall quite widely within the warning areas, but in excess of 100 mm is possible over high ground in parts of Wales and southwest England.”

“In addition, rapid melting of lying snow over the weekend and periods of strong winds are likely to exacerbate impacts and bring the potential for travel disruption, as well as flooding for some.”