Sarah TurnnidgeWest of England
Getty ImagesAreas of England and Wales have been warned of potential flooding and travel disruption caused by heavy rain.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for south west England and south Wales earlier, which will be in place from 18:00 GMT on Monday to 18:00 on Tuesday.
The forecaster said an area of low pressure approaching the UK from the south west would bring heavy rain as well as strong winds, which could last until early Wednesday.
“At present, the exact track, depth, and timings of this low are uncertain, which makes it harder to determine where will be most impacted by strong winds and/or heavy rain,” said Steven Keates, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist.
“This system has the potential to cause disruption, and severe weather warnings are likely to be issued over the weekend as details become clearer,” he added.
Outbreaks of rain will become persistent and heavy, the Met Office said, with up to 40mm (1.6in) of rainfall in some areas and 60-80mm of rain over Dartmoor and high ground in south Wales, which could amount to more than half the average monthly rainfall in December.
Spray and flooding on the roads could cause difficult driving conditions, the forecaster said, with a chance of cancellations to train and bus services.
There is a small chance of some communities being cut off by flooded roads, as well as of homes and businesses being damaged by rising water.
The Met Office warning also highlights the possibility of fast flowing water causing danger to life, with some areas also facing the potential of power cuts.
Where does Met Office weather warning cover?
Met OfficeThe weather warning covers much of the south-west of England and south Wales.
The Met Office says parts, or the whole, of the following areas will be affected. You can find more information here.
- Hampshire
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
- Bristol
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- Isles of Scilly
- North Somerset
- Plymouth
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Torbay
- Wiltshire
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Pembrokeshire
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Herefordshire