Yellow warnings issued for heavy rain and strong winds

Heavy rain and strong winds could bring flooding, power cuts and damage to buildings in parts of the UK on Thursday, the Met Office has warned.

Motorists are being warned of difficult driving conditions on Thursday. File pic: PA

Two yellow weather warnings across southern and eastern England have been issued – the first one for rain extends from 5am until 5pm.

The weather could lead to flooding and disruption to transport networks and create “difficult driving conditions”, according to forecasters.

The second Met Office warning says there is a “small chance of disruption” from strong winds and runs from 8am until 6pm.

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There is a “small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris”, said the Met Office, while the strong winds could lead to the closure of some bridges and roads.

The two yellow weather warnings issued for Thursday. Pic: Met Office

It comes after rain warnings were issued for Wednesday across parts of south-west England and Wales, with much of the UK already saturated from recent heavy rain.

The unsettled and mild conditions will eventually clear in the coming days, making way for colder weather as temperatures return to closer to the average values for the time of the year.

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Sky News weather producer, Christopher England, said: “It’ll stay unsettled for the next few days, with widespread showers and some more general heavy rain and strong winds in the South on Thursday.

“The wind will become more northerly as the rain clears, so it’ll be colder than recently, with temperatures nearer the February average. Expect some snow on northern hills.

“Saturday and Sunday look drier for many northern and central parts, although there’ll still be some showers in the North and West, while the South will turn wet and windy again overnight into Sunday, with coastal gales developing.

“It’ll stay chilly for most, after extensive overnight frosts, but it’ll turn quite mild in the South again.

“Monday will be similar, with rain and strong winds in the South only slowly clearing.”