Warning: Yellow

To expect: Rain

Affected areas: South West England

Start time estimate: Thursday noon

End time estimate: Thursday 11pm

The Met Office has announced a Yellow rain warning for South West England for Thursday.

Intense showers will soak the region. The rainfall is anticipated to approach the area on Thursday at around noon, and it will last until 11pm.

The Yellow alert for rain was announced at 11:30am on Tuesday, January 27.

A Met Office forecast said: “A band of rain is likely to reach southwest England on Thursday afternoon then spread quickly northeast across the rest of the warning area by evening. The rain is only likely to last for a few hours in any one location but will be heavy at times. A further 10 to 20 mm is likely quite widely, and in the wetter spots, particularly across the moors, a further 20 to 40 mm is possible and will fall onto already saturated ground.”

What to expect

There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings; There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life; Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services; Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures; There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads.

What should you do during heavy rainfall?

Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit. Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary. Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area. For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.

What is a yellow weather warning?

The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.

A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.

An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.

A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.

The Yellow weather alert for rain will remain in place until 11pm on Thursday.