Flash flood warnings for UK as heavy rain batters drought-hit ground

Heavy downpours returning to drought-stricken regions across the UK carry a risk of flash flooding, forecasters at the Met Office have warned.

The warning follows a period of heavier rain on Wednesday and Thursday, coming after a summer marked by severe heatwaves and dry weather . These conditions have left the whole of Wales and nearly three-quarters of England in drought.

Data from the Environment Agency (EA) indicates that the northwest of England experienced the wettest weather over the past 24 hours, with 52.5mm of rain recorded in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe.

This single volume represents a third of the region’s average overall rainfall logged between 1 June and 18 August this year, which reached up to 156mm, according to the Met Office.

Significant rainfall also fell across southern parts of the country, where an EA monitoring station at Pevensey Bay in East Sussex registered 32mm of rain over the same 24-hour period.

“Most parts of the UK have seen at least a few splashes of rain, but many parts have seen a little bit more than that,” Craig Snell, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, said.

“Generally, it’s been a big change in the last 24 to 48 hours compared to what many parts of the UK have seen in the last couple of months.”

But the wetter conditions, which come after the UK’s fifth heatwave of the summer, also create a risk of flooding as heavy showers fall on baked dry ground, Mr Snell warned.

“Unfortunately, some of these showers which have fallen have caused some impacts.

“Parts of the North West have seen some localised flooding, and also parts of the south coast of England over the last 24 hours or so.

“Part of that is down to the fact that the rain is falling on quite baked ground, so the water is not sinking in like it would usually do.”

Showers continued near coasts on Thursday evening, but will likely fade away across inland areas overnight, with clear spells developing elsewhere, according to the Met Office.

Further showers are forecast on Friday for most parts of the UK, although they are not likely to be as widespread or heavy as they were on Thursday for many, Mr Snell said.

Some thunderstorms are also likely overnight across parts of Wales and western England, Mr Snell said.