US storms bring heavy rain to UK and risk of further floods

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings this week for heavy rain – a period it has described as changeable and potentially disruptive.

Through Tuesday and Wednesday a prolonged period of heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is expected to affect the UK.

Western parts are likely to see the most rain as warm, moist air arrives from the west.

The heavy rain today will be as a result of the deep low pressure system which brought blizzards and near record-breaking amounts of snow last weekend to the eastern part of America.

However, in the UK it will mainly be rain and wind, not snow, that could cause disruption.

A second low pressure system will bring Wednesday’s rain and wind but also some snow across parts of the Grampians and Highlands in Scotland.

A quieter, colder spell in-between weather systems on Thursday is expected to be short-lived before further rain and winds spread in towards the end of the week.

The Environment Agency has warned those in Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Devon and Cornwall to prepare for flooding.

Some 20-40mm (0.8-1.6in) of rain - and up to 60mm in the most exposed areas - is forecast in Scotland, while north-west England, Wales, Devon and Cornwall are predicted to get between 30 and 50mm, with up to 100mm in exposed uplands.

In England and Wales, the heaviest rain and strongest winds are expected in two bouts - one late morning and afternoon on Tuesday, and another Tuesday night into Wednesday, before clearing to the south-east on Wednesday afternoon, the BBC reports.