UK weather: Snow and ice to cause travel disruption as Met Office issues warnings for Storm Dennis

More than a month’s worth of rain to hit part of country in just two days

Storm Dennis is set to bring “well over” a month’s rainfall to parts of the UK, as Britons brace for more travel disruption just days after the impact of Storm Ciara.

Five consecutive days of weather warnings are in place from Thursday to Monday, with Storm Dennis expected to make landfall over the weekend.

The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for rain for much of the UK on Saturday and Sunday, indicating that flooding may potentially cause danger to life as well as damage to buildings.

Forecasters have said commutes on Thursday might be “tricky” as snow is predicted to fall in northern England and southern Scotland. The Met Office estimates that 8cm (3in) of snow will fall in some parts of Scotland.

The predictions come as temperatures in the Highlands hit a low of -10.2C overnight, making it the coldest night this year.

Conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend, with rain and wind warnings issued for most of England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday.

Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Another spell of very wet and windy ​weather is expected for Saturday. Although Storm Dennis is currently not expected to be as severe as Ciara, disruption is still likely.

“Our confidence in the forecast means we have been able to issue severe weather warnings well in advance, giving people time to prepare for potential impacts of the storm.”

A spokesperson for the Met Office told The Independent: “It’s the rain that we’re particularly concerned about with Storm Dennis. Over the weekend, we’ve got weather front after weather front bringing continued rain to much of the UK.”

She added that the worst affected areas – in Wales and southwest England – might receive between 100mm and 120mm of rain between midday on Saturday and Sunday evening. This is “well over” the February monthly average of 60.3mm of rainfall in England, the spokesperson said.

Given the rain will fall on already wet ground, flooding is likely. Travel disruption and power cuts are possible too.

This follows the flooding chaos caused by Storm Ciara last weekend, when many rivers burst their banks including the River Irwell at Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.

The Environmental Agency has currently issued 36 flood warnings ahead of Storm Dennis, mainly for western and southwestern England. There are fewer warnings in place for northern England, which experienced severe flooding following Storm Ciara.