Warning: Yellow

To expect: Rain

Affected area: Multiple, listed below

Start time estimate: Saturday 10am

End time estimate: Sunday 4am

The Met Office has announced an updated Yellow rain warning for several regions across the UK for Saturday and Sunday.

The warning is covering parts of East Midlands, North East England, North West England, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber. All local areas affected are listed below.

Heavy downpours is forecast for the regions, expected to start at approximately 10am on Saturday and continuing until Sunday at 4am.

The updated Yellow warning for rain was announced at 11:27am on Thursday, September 18.

A Met Office forecast said: “A band of rain, heavy at times, across Wales, and northern and western England is expected to remain slow-moving during Saturday morning before making erratic eastward progress, eventually clearing early on Sunday. Whilst there is still some uncertainty in the focus for the heaviest rainfall, 20-30 mm of rain is likely to fall quite widely with some locations in the warning area seeing 60-80 mm of rain. These higher accumulations may not be confined to high ground only with these more probable over north Wales and northern England. Should confidence increase in these higher totals falling over urban or sensitive areas, this warning may be upgraded. As the area of rain clears east, a spell of strong northwesterly winds may develop later Saturday and Sunday morning, most likely towards North Sea coasts.”

What to expect

Homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings; Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life; Delays or cancellations to train and bus services are possible; Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures; Some communities may be temporarily cut off by flooded roads; Possible power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.

What should you do during heavy rain?

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.

People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do: consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

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.

Full list of local areas affected

East Midlands
Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire

North East England
Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland

North West England
Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington

Wales
Bridgend, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Wrexham

West Midlands
Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin

Yorkshire and Humber
East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York

What is an updated 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 effect until 4am on Sunday.