Autumn is officially here, and with it heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout the day to reinforce the message that summer is officially over.
A weather warning for rain is in force lasting all of Sunday for Wales and central south-west England, and another on Monday, stretching to cover areas further east and further north.
Authorities have warned of potential travel disruption, flooding and power cuts.
Officials also say there is a small chance homes and businesses could be flooded rapidly, with fast-flowing or deep floodwater causing “danger to life”.
They also warned there was a small chance some communities become cut off by flooded roads, with possible power cuts and cancellations to train and bus services.
The wet weather comes as the autumn equinox kicks off, marking the start of the astronomical autumn.
For simplicity, meteorologists often say this annual season change takes place on 1 September each year.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: “We’ve seen some very heavy showers and thunderstorms spreading their way in across southern areas of England, into parts of Wales as well during the course of today.
“This evening, those will continue to rumble their way on a bit, spreading again into parts of Midlands, Wales, then maybe just clipping the far south of Northern Ireland as well.
“Into the early hours of tomorrow morning we’ll also see our next batch of thundery rain moving its way into southern areas of England as well.”
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It’s not just the UK feeling damp, very unsettled weather with heavy rain and thunderstorms is also expected across much of western Europe.
Heavy rainfall is also expected across southeastern Asia, tropical West Africa and the southern Sahel (in the southernmost latitudes of North Africa).
Source Agencies
