UK weather forecast: Met Office issues heavy rain warning as Storm Miguel hits Britain

Weekend showers predicted across UK

Heavy rain is predicted to cause flooding and travel disruption across large parts of the UK as the weekend approaches thanks to the effects of Storm Miguel.

A Met Office weather warning said buses and trains would probably be affected, while spray on the roads will cause slower journeys for motorists. Power cuts are possible.

Flooding of homes and businesses was likely, forecasters said, as remnants of the low-pressure system – named by meteorologists in Spain – hit the UK.

A warning extends from Exeter to Brighton on the south coast, up past Cardiff, reaching north and east almost to Coventry and Cambridge; it is in force until 11pm on Friday.

Miguel is expected to move north and then east into the North Sea, Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge told The Independent.

He said: “It will start to weaken now. It’s going to bring very wet conditions to part of Britain and also unseasonably strong winds.

“The winds will be across a broader swathe than the warning area. We’re looking at strong winds really affecting most parts of southern Britain during the day.

“Particularly around the Channel coast and any exposed coast, we’re looking at gusts of up to 40 or 50mph.

“It’s obviously bringing a fairly large amount of rain ... around 15 to 20mm in the hour, which is reasonably significant. With that, we’re seeing some lightning activity.

“As the storm moves north and east it will be pulling in behind it a more showery regime. There will be brighter breaks in the south.”

The picture for the weekend is of unsettled weather across the country, Mr Madge said, with heavy rain in the Midlands and parts of Scotland on Saturday as Miguel’s remnants move through.

Sunny spells and scattered showers are expected throughout Britain on Sunday and Monday, with Mr Madge warning of some “extremely sharp showers” and possibly lightning.