UK weather update: Snow and heavy flooding in some areas with ‘danger to life’ flood warning in place for this weekend

Parts of country could one month's rainfall in just 24 hours

A month's rainfall could hit the UK in just 24 hours, forecasters warned as they issued "danger to life" warnings for parts of the country.

As it issued yellow weather warnings for most of Wales, parts of the south west of England and from south Yorkshire up to Penrith, the Met Office said there was a chance of "fast flowing and deep floodwater".

As well of their being a chance of this causing a "danger to life", they also warned of “delays and cancellations to train and bus services".

The yellow warnings are in place from Friday noon until 6pm on Saturday afternoon.

Some regions could face “the possibility of up to 100mm of rain in 24 hours” (the equivalent of a typical month’s rainfall in some regions), Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge told The Independent. “There is a conveyor of cloud and rain that’s going to be bringing this rainfall more or less continually over parts of the west, especially Wales."

He added: "Obviously there is a small chance of impact – so there’s a small chance that homes and properties could see some flooding.”

Rain is expected to arrive across northern England on Friday and become heavy and persistent, lasting into Saturday, although it should clear away southeastwards later in the afternoon.

Some 25-40 mm of rain is likely quite widely with as much as 70 mm in places, especially high ground, which could see up to 120mm at points.

This will be accompanied by strong winds which could reach 50 mph over coasts and hills.

Snow is also possible for a time across the higher Pennine routes.