The Met Office has issued a fresh yellow weather warning for rain, placing 39 specific areas across the UK on high alert for potential flooding later this week.
Widespread Disruption Expected
Heavy downpours of up to 70mm are forecast to hit already saturated ground on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The warning, active from 9am until the end of the day, covers a vast swathe of southern England, parts of Wales, and the West Midlands. This follows last week's severe conditions brought by Storm Goretti, which has left the land unable to absorb more water efficiently.
The national weather service states that a "deepening area of low pressure will migrate northeastwards across England and Wales on Thursday." While the precise track remains uncertain, the rain is expected to become persistent and heavy throughout the day, clearing northwards overnight.
Public Urged to Prepare Emergency Kits
Residents in the affected regions are being strongly advised to take immediate precautions. The official guidance warns: "Heavy rain falling on saturated ground may lead to some surface water flooding." The Met Office explicitly recommends that people check if their property is at risk and to consider preparing both a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.
Accumulations of 20-40mm are anticipated widely, with the potential for 40-70mm in isolated spots, particularly across southwest England. The Environment Agency currently has three flood warnings (where flooding is expected) and 40 flood alerts (where flooding is possible) in place for England.
Icy Conditions Add to Weather Woes
In a separate development, a yellow warning for ice has been issued for much of western and northern Scotland. This warning runs from 8pm on Tuesday, January 13, until 10am on Wednesday, January 14. Icy surfaces are likely to form where recent heavy snow has melted or where there has been significant rainfall.
The broader forecast for Thursday to Saturday predicts further rain across the UK, with temperatures around average in the south but remaining cold in the north. A spell of heavy rain and strong winds is possible on Thursday night.
The regions under the yellow rain warning for Thursday include:
- London & South East England: Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex.
- South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Torbay, Wiltshire.
- Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan.
- West Midlands: Herefordshire, Worcestershire.
