Storm Desmond: Further severe weather warnings issued for week ahead

Over 40 severe weather warnings remain in place until Thursday

People watch waves close to the harbour wall at Porthcawl, South Wales, as Storm Desmond hits the UK (PA)

Hundreds of thousands of people can expect more heavy rain as severe weather warnings remain in place throughout Scotland and north west England in the wake of Storm Desmond.

Over forty flood warnings, which risk severe flooding and danger to life, are currently in force in England and Wales, with many of these in the areas worst affected by record breaking rainfall over the weekend.

The Met Office have issued severe weather warnings until Thursday with up to four inches of rain forecast over high ground on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Met Office said on Monday and Tuesday: “A spell of persistent rain, heavy at times, is expected to affect parts of Scotland and northwest England.”

On Wednesday and Thursday: “A frontal system is expected to run into the UK from the west, bringing further rainfall and strong winds.

“Some very strong winds are likely with gusts of 60mph possible around coasts and hills.

“Heavy rainfall looks likely across central and southern Scotland and northwest England. 20-40mm of rain is expected widely across high ground and there is a very low likelihood of seeing 80-100mm over the highest ground of those areas.”

Although forecasters have reassured rainfall of the level seen over the weekend is not expected, renewed flooding is extremely possible as more heavy rain falls on already saturated ground.

The weekend saw a new record created for the largest amount of rain in a 24-hour period, with 341.4mm recorded at Honister Pass in Cumbria.

The maximum wind speed recorded was 81mph in Capel Curig, Gwynedd.

Hundreds of families were temporarily left homeless as they were evacuated from houses devastated when lakes and rivers burst their banks in Cumbria, Lancashire and other nearby areas following the storm.

More than 60,000 houses were left without power and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said 26 schools would be closed for the start of the week due to flooding.

The army has been drafted in to help evacuate people from their homes and rescue those stranded after the river Eden burst its banks at Appleby-in-Westmorland, sweeping away bridges and leaving some houses in under a metre of water.

The Met Office’s chief scientist, Dame Julia Slingo told BBC Radio 4's World at One, that although it is too early to determine a definitive cause for Storm Desmond, such rainfall is seven times more likely than in a world with human created greenhouse gases.