UK weather today: A life threatening amber warning has been issued today during heavy rain and thunderstorms Achi-News

A three-day weekend awaits most of us, but will we see showers or sunshine?

According to the Met Office, we are still likely to see some rain on Friday, particularly in the north, although there will be some brighter spells in the south and east throughout the day.

“Later on Saturday, a front may move in from the Atlantic bringing a band of rain to Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland. For many however, Saturday is likely to be a fair day, feeling warmer with slightly above average temperatures.

“But conditions are likely to change on Sunday, as we see the return of more unsettled and showery weather.”

Pictures show people braving the rain as the Met Office issued several weather warnings for today.

Showers of rain are expected to fall this afternoon across large parts of the UK.

In the south of England, a thunderstorm warning has also been issued. Despite the rain, temperatures remain mild as they hang in the mid-teens.

Human-caused climate change has made showers and rainfall across the UK and Ireland more intense with the region facing wetter winters in the future, scientists have warned.

The World Weather Attribution study found that rainfall during storms across the UK and Ireland between October 2023 and March 2024 has been made 20 per cent heavier by global warming.

The UK and Ireland saw 13 to 14 severe storms in 2023-24, which caused 13 deaths and widespread damage across both countries – with similarly heavy rainfall ten times more likely in the future.

Amber – Rain from 12pm today until 12pm tomorrow

Affecting: East Midlands, North West England, Wales, Yorkshire and Humber

Yellow – Rain 00.15 today until 12pm tomorrow

Affects: East Midlands, East England, London and South East England, North East England, North West England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber

Yellow – Rain 5pm today to 10am tomorrow

Affects: Western Highlands and Isles, Orkney and Shetland, Strathclyde

Yellow – Storm and thunder 8am to 7pm today

Affects: London and South East England, South West England

Yellow – Rain 12pm today to 6pm tomorrow

Affects: Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, South West Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde

Yellow – Rain 5pm today to 10am tomorrow

Affects: Northern Ireland

As well as the thunderstorm warning, which also includes scattered showers and the threat of road spray and flash flooding, southern England could see heavy, thundery showers that could bring 30-40mm within three hours .

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “The exact path of the low pressure which would determine where the rainfall comes is still uncertain and something we are keeping an eye on.

“We would encourage people to keep an eye on the forecast over the next few days to see how that evolves.”

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “Some areas are really going to see a lot of heavy, sustained rain through a large chunk of Wednesday. It’s going to be quite a wet picture as we go through the rest of the week for many places.

“There is some uncertainty as to where exactly we are going to see the heaviest rain and where it is most likely to be affected.”

Forecasters say heavy rain and, in places, a prolonged period of rain is expected from an area of ​​low pressure arriving from the east, which has brought downpours to parts of central Europe.

Many places could see 30-40mm of rain, while some areas could receive 60-80mm as heavy rain moves north throughout Wednesday. The Met Office said there was a small chance some upland areas could see up to 150mm.

Heavy rain could cause flooding and travel disruption across much of the UK on Wednesday and Thursday with an amber warning being issued for part of the country.

The Met Office has issued the amber warning for parts of north Wales and north west England, including Liverpool and Manchester, for 24 hours from midday on Wednesday.

The warning for the region says flooding and disruption is likely, with rain becoming heavy and persistent.

A yellow warning for rain is in force for northern England, mid England and north and mid Wales until 6am on Thursday, with the southern edges of the affected area extended to run roughly from Norwich to Bath.

Another yellow rain warning comes into effect at midday on Wednesday for Scotland, covering the south and east of the country, which runs until 6pm on Thursday.

A further yellow warning for thunderstorms has been added for a large part of the south coast of England between 8am and 7pm on Wednesday.