Christmas shoppers will take a battering as 70mph winds blow in over weekend with some parts drenched by more than three inches of rain and floods

• Homes & businesses may experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain is expected 
• Yellow warnings issued for Dorset and Devon, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Christmas shoppers will have to battle strong winds of up to 70mph this weekend as the country continues to be hit with heavy rainfall. 

The bad weather could cause delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport, and coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities may be affected by spray and large waves. 

Areas with Irish Sea coasts could see gusts of up to 70mph, with parts of the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland experiencing windspeeds of between 45 and 55mph, the Met Office said.

Wind speeds will increase in the west during Saturday morning and then across other areas through the afternoon.

Homes and businesses may experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain is expected to fall in some parts of the UK, the forecaster said.

Yellow weather warnings for rain have been issued for areas of Dorset and Devon, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, with ground already heavily saturated.

Homes and businesses may experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain is expected to fall in some parts of the UK. Pictured: Drone footage taken today of floods in Somerset 

A Land Rover and Nissan drove through a large puddle in Dorset yesterday as the region battles heavy rain 

A road sign is almost completely submerged as floods continue to hit Somerset 

Vehicles drive through floodwater on the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas in Dorset yesterday

Drone footage shows a house struggling with flooding as parts of Somerset are submerged 

Yellow weather warnings for rain have been issued for areas of Dorset and Devon, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, with ground already heavily saturated

Rain of 30-50mm is expected to fall widely in southern Scotland, with possibly 60-80mm over higher ground, beginning on Friday night, the Met Office said.

The unsettled weather will continue into Sunday and next week, with a chance of further weather warnings.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: ‘We’re in for a wet and windy weekend.

‘From 6pm tonight a band of heavy wind and rain will move through Scotland. There’s a possibility of flooding because of the already saturated ground.

‘Another band will move tomorrow morning from the south-west of the UK towards the north-east, bringing with it heavy rain for much of the country.

‘By the afternoon most of the heavy wind and rain will have passed and it will just be showers for southern areas.

‘We will also be seeing some quite strong winds in Wales, the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland, particularly coastal communities around the Irish Sea.’

This comes as forecasters say some areas will face ‘frequent showers’ and even rumbles of thunder through Friday – before a huge bank of rain hits the south-west into Saturday.

Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said of Friday morning’s weather: ‘(It will be) a wet one for Northern Ireland, there will be frequent showers for north Wales, north-west England, much of central and southern Scotland.

‘Parts of southern England, East Anglia may stay dry and bright – but it’s a bit misty and murky to start the day.’

Conditions will worsen into Saturday as the rain creeps up the country into the north of England and southern Scotland – before skies brighten up in the afternoon.

But Sunday will also see ‘unsettled’ weather with bands of rain sweeping north and east across much of the country – paired with high winds, including gales. 

A car drives through flooding in Norfolk yesterday as the region continues to struggle with rain fall 

DEVON: In Axminister the River Axe burst its banks after heavy overnight rain causing surrounding fields to become saturated 

DORSET: Deep floodwater blocked part of the road near Honeycombe Farm on the B3163 following Thursday’s heavy showers 

SOMERSEET: A horse rider is seen forcing to disembark and walk her animal through knee-deep rainwater

It came after Thursday’s torrents saw schools opening or closing late with a horse racing event being called off at Wincanton because of the miserable conditions.  

Parts of Devon and Cornwall were left underwater with a number of roads being forced closed following the onslaught of showers, with fields across the counties left saturated.

Devon County Council Highways said that Tavistock, Lee Mill and the River Axe had all been affected with staff at the Axminister Inn claiming people were finding it hard to get in and out of the market town.

Cars were pictured forcing their way through deep flood waters in Dorset and in Somerset a horse rider was seen forcing to disembark and walk her animal through knee-deep rainwater. 

A yellow weather warning from the Met Office remained in place for parts of Eastern Scotland overnight, warning that more travel disruption could be expected. 

The miserable weather is expected to continue today with unsettled showers, long spells of rain and windy blusters hitting most of the country. Coastal gales are expected in some parts of Wales and the southwest. 

Up to four inches of rain are expected to fall by the end of the weekend, with the wet weather showing no signs of easing.  

Homes and businesses have been worst affected by the floodwater, which was caused by heavy showers and melting frost.

On Friday morning, 68 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency remained in place, while a further 197 flood alerts were issued.

Low cloud will clear to leave a brighter start for many on Friday with heavy showers slowly moving into parts of the north and west

Temperatures will remain milder on Friday but showers and blustery winds will continue 

DEVON: Axminster was just one region severely affected by flooding on Thursday 

CUMRBIA: Earlier this week parts of the county faced snow, with the melting ice increasing the risk of flooding

FLOOD ALERTS: On Friday morning, 68 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency remained in place, while a further 197 flood alerts were issued

The forecaster’s meteorologist Alex Deakin said Britons will have a ‘wet and windy weekend’ with a number of low pressure systems blowing over from the Atlantic.

Met office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong added: ‘Low pressure will drive several days of unsettled conditions, with heavy rainfall the main concern.

‘We have issued a number of severe weather warnings for rain across the UK. As much as 80mm (3in) of rain could fall in some areas of the West, particularly on higher ground’. 

‘The rain will be falling on already very wet ground. And where there is still lying snow in the north west of England and Scotland, snow melt will exacerbate the risk of flooding.’

Weatherman Simon Patridge told the Sun: ‘By the end of the weekend we could see up to 4in fall. It’s a really unsettled pictures at the moment. Rainfall totals are going to be mounting.’

Yesterday Scotland was put on avalanche alert after a heavy snow forecast was issued, with the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) issuing a ‘considerable’ alert.

It warned that the chance of ‘snowslips’ in the Northern Cairngorms had increased from low to moderate, adding ‘avalanches likely’. 

Meanwhile in South Cumbria a district nurse was forced to use a tractor to get around to her patients.

Ashleigh Mayvers, 33, told local paper the Mail: ‘Even with the tractor, it was difficult at times to keep it under control in the snow.’

Flood alerts were put in place across the country on Thursday with warnings that the heavy showers could cut off some communities, create poor driving conditions and close roads. 

The Met has warned that journey times are likely to be made longer due to spray and flooding on roads, while bus and train services will probably be affected.

It is also likely that some homes and business will experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain falls in some parts of the west of the UK.

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: ‘After a relatively calm day on Wednesday, wet and windy weather will move in from the west on Wednesday night. 

NORFOLK: The Met Office warned driving conditions may be problematic as roads flood. Drivers yesterday were seen making their way through surface water on  A1101 in Welney, Norfolk (pictured)

NORFOLK: Cars make their way through surface water on the A1101 in Welney, Norfolk yesterday. The Met Office has forecast heavy rain and strong winds for much of the country thanks to a low pressure system sweeping the UK

NORFOLK: Cars make their way through surface water on the A1101 in Welney in Norfolk, where the River Delph and New Bedford River flooded yesterday

‘Low pressure will drive several days of unsettled conditions with heavy rainfall the main concern. We have issued a number of severe weather warnings for rain across the UK, as much as 80mm of rain could fall in some areas of the west, particularly higher ground.

‘Higher ground in eastern Scotland could even see up to 100mm of rain. Our warnings are likely to be updated so keep up to date with the Met Office forecast.

‘The rain will be falling on already very wet ground and where there is still lying snow in the north-west of England and parts of Scotland, snow melt will exacerbate the risk of flooding.

‘It is important to check for flood warnings in your area issued by your local environment agency.’

In Wales, there is one flood alert for South Pembrokeshire. In Scotland, there are flood alerts for Fife, Tayside, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee and Angus, and Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City. 

Environment Agency flood duty manager Kate Marks warned Britons to keep clear of floodways as heavy rain sets in.

‘Significant river and surface water flooding impacts are possible in parts of the South West of England on Thursday and Friday, with minor impacts also probable elsewhere in the country,’ she said.

‘We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.’

NORFOLK: The River Delph and New Bedford River have flooded the surrounding area in Norfolk yesterday

LONDON: Commuters brave the freezing fog in Richmond south-west London on Wednesday morning

DERBYSHIRE: Temperatures hit -6C in rural Derbyshire on Wednesday, leaving the air cold and streets frosty

RAC Breakdown spokesman Simon Williams also urged drivers to be wary of flooded roads, saying that those in the ‘worst-affected areas will need to be on their guard for floods and standing water’.

He added: ‘Anyone tempted to drive through water that is too deep for their vehicle is risking their safety and a very expensive repair bill near to Christmas or, worse still, the prospect of an insurance write-off.

‘The best advice is to turn around and go another way if there’s any doubt about the water’s depth. 

‘From a road safety perspective, we urge drivers to slow down and leave plenty of stopping distance behind the vehicle in front.

‘It’s also important to remember the risk of losing control due to aquaplaning, which is what happens when a layer of water gets between the tyres and the road surface, making it impossible to steer, brake or accelerate.’

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