Rain and strong winds are forecast for parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and SW England from 6pm to midnight. Travel disruption is expected as the Met Office predicts a “short period of very strong winds” with gusts of 50-60mph, possibly reaching 70mph in coastal areas. It added that a “short period of very heavy rainfall and gale-force winds” is “likely to cause some disruption, with some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport expected”. Train and bus services will also be “likely” to be affected with journey times taking longer thanks to spray and temporary road flooding. Some short-term loss of power and other services is also possible with the possibility of hail and lightning in some places. The Environment Agency issued five flood warnings on Monday for Alfriston, Barcombe Mills and Hellingly and Horsbridge, East Sussex, and for Mock Bridge, near Shermanbury, West Sussex, on the River Adur. What is the weather like in your area? It warns that Whitwell, Wroxall, Langbridge and Alverstone on the Eastern Yar River in the Isle of Wight are at risk of flooding. A second yellow warning for rain was issued from 3pm to midnight for south-west Scotland, the Lothian Borders and Strathclyde. The areas expected to be affected are Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. Alexander Burkill, senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Two warnings have been issued, one for rain in areas of south-west Scotland due to accumulating totals later today. “The second warning covers south-west England, much of Wales and parts of Northern Ireland. “This is due to a thin band of rain that will bring very strong winds and heavy rainfall. Image: Climate – The Great Debate “Rates of 20mm an hour are possible with 50 to 60mph gusts, maybe 70mph in exposed spots. “The complex should move fairly quickly, but some impacts are still possible during the early part of the night due to heavy rain and winds.” The bad weather is expected to clear overnight with no warning issued for the rest of the week.
