UK weather: Scores of flood warnings issued as more heavy rain set to drench Britain

More than 65 flood warnings and 198 alerts are in place across the UK as heavy rain is forecast to drench areas that were badly affected by last month’s storms.

The red warnings, which indicate that flooding is expected, are largely across the west of England and the Welsh border, as well as in South Wales – areas already impacted by heavy flooding from Storm Dennis last month.

In Hereford, flood barriers are being erected on the River Wye to protect the city, only three weeks after it hit a record high of 6.11m – more than two meters higher than the level which begins to flood the area.

The river will peak on Tuesday night at around five metres, according to the Environment Agency, after forecasters warned of the impending heavy rainfall in Wales and England.

In Shrewsbury, the River Severn is also predicted to rise, prompting warnings of flooding in the area.

Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, tweeted: “As forecast some absolutely torrential rain over mid Wales.

“River Wye in #Herefordshire now responding to last night’s heavy rain in Wales. Expecting a peak of around 5m in Hereford tonight. That’s around a metre lower than 17th February.”

As well as the flooding, yellow snow and ice warnings are in place from the Met Office across the North of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland for Wednesday and Thursday.

Those warnings tell the public to expect delays on the roads, as well as to be careful when out and about.

Despite the warnings in place, forecasters believe that some respite for flood hit areas could be on its way.

Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: “Although there’s going to be a lot of rain in the next 24 hours, beyond that, although it will be fairly unsettled, it doesn’t look like any one particular place will be in the firing line to see persistent, heavy rain.

“There’s some rain around but it’s not as focused.

“It’s generally a colder second half to the week with sunshine and some showers, but still quite blustery.

“There’s a hint in the second half of the month things might become a bit quieter.

“It’s still 10 days away but there are some tentative signs we might get some drier weather in the long term.

“But certainly in the next week or so it’s going to be very changeable.”

(c) Sky News 2020: UK weather: Scores of flood warnings issued as more heavy rain set to drench Britain