UK weather – live: Storm Elin named as Met Office warns of flooding and heavy rain

Forecaster warns up to 80mm of rain could fall in certain parts of the country

UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

Dozens of weather warnings have been issued across the UK and Ireland as heavy rain and windy conditions threaten to disrupt the start of the weekend.

Meanwhile, Storm Elin will bring gale force winds to parts of Ireland as Met Eireann issued a range of orange warnings for wind.

The Met Office has warned that homes and businesses may experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain falls in some parts of the UK.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said a band of wind and rain will move from the south-west of the UK towards the north-east on Saturday, “bringing with it heavy rain for much of the country”.

He said: “By the afternoon most of the heavy wind and rain will have passed and it will just be showers for southern areas.

“We will also be seeing some quite strong winds in Wales, the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland, particularly coastal communities around the Irish Sea.

“We’re in for a wet and windy weekend.”

The unsettled weather will continue into Sunday and next week, with a chance of further weather warnings.

[9 December 2023 10:20 · Holly Evans]

Storm Elin named as northern Ireland to see rain and flooding

Irish Sea coast areas could get 70mph winds, while gusts of up to 55mph are possible in the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland, the Met Office said.

The weather system has now been named Storm Elin by the Irish Meteorological Service, Met Eireann.

The Met Office is forecasting that Elin will sweep across much of Northern Ireland and northern England on Saturday, with large swathes of Scotland also in its path.

(PA)

[9 December 2023 10:00 · Holly Evans]

Yellow alerts for Dorset Devon and Scotland issued

A yellow alert for rain covering areas of Dorset and Devon is in place until 9am on Saturday, with the Met Office warning a spell of heavy rainfall could affect travel and create possible flooding.

Yellow alerts for rain and wind have also been issued for southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, while a separate wind alert covering parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England comes into force at 9am on Saturday.

An area stretching from Sheffield to Carlisle is under a yellow rain warning between 8am on Saturday and 3am on Sunday, with the Met Office warning two separate bands of heavy rain are forecast to hit the region in the morning and evening.

Much of Ireland is also under wind warnings on Saturday with Met Eireann cautioning severe gusts could cause disruption and travel difficulties.

[9 December 2023 09:35 · Holly Evans]

Map showing weather warnings across UK

Weather warning issued across UK (PA Wire)

[9 December 2023 09:15 · Holly Evans]

‘Wet and windy weekend ahead’, says forecaster

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said a band of heavy wind and rain will move from the south-west of the UK towards the north-east on Saturday, “bringing with it heavy rain for much of the country”.

He said: “By the afternoon most of the heavy wind and rain will have passed and it will just be showers for southern areas.

“We will also be seeing some quite strong winds in Wales, the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland, particularly coastal communities around the Irish Sea.

“We’re in for a wet and windy weekend.”

[9 December 2023 08:50 · Holly Evans]

Met Office issue yellow weather warnings across north-west England

The Met Office has issued further yellow weather warnings to cover the north-west of England, which is set to be hit by heavy rain and winds.

The warning remains in place until 3am on Sunday.

[9 December 2023 08:47 · Holly Evans]

Met Office issues new flood warnings as Britain braces heavy downpour

The UK is bracing for strong winds and more heavy rain this weekend, with the Met Office issuing new weather warnings across most of the country.

Areas near the Irish Sea are being warned they could face gusts of up to 70mph, with sustained windspeeds between 45 and 55mph forecast for the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland.

Part of the UK may also experience flooding with as much as 80mm of rain expected, the forecaster said, as yellow weather warnings were issued for Dorset and Devon, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Read the full article here

[9 December 2023 08:45 · Holly Evans]

Welcome to our live blog

Welcome to our live coverage as we bring you all the latest weather updates over the weekend, as heavy wind and rain are set to batter parts of the UK.