Warning issued for strong winds after brief respite from downpours

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Louise Thomas

Editor

A weather warning has been issued for wind across parts of the UK as more blustery conditions and rain move in this weekend after a brief respite on Saturday.

Areas across England have suffered heavy rain and localised flooding in recent days, with commuters facing widespread disruption on road and rail services.

An amber rain warning issued by the Met Office for areas of the Midlands and the south of the country and a separate yellow rain warning for large parts of England and Wales both ended on Friday.

According to the Met Office, some counties in southern and central England have already had more than 250% of their average September rainfall.

Temperatures are expected to drop on Friday night into Saturday morning, with a northerly airflow introducing widespread frost, the forecaster said.

Saturday will see generally drier conditions, though there will be some showers around northern and eastern coasts which will drift inland at times.

Sunday will start dry and fine for many, but further wind and rain will move in from the South West, with a yellow warning for wind issued for south-west England and parts of Wales.

Winds will strengthen from west to east during Sunday, with gusts of 50-55mph likely in places, exceeding 60mph in the most exposed areas.

The Met Office said this will be accompanied by outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, which could lead to some surface water and spray on roads.

Winds will gradually ease across Wales and inland parts of south-west England through Sunday evening and night, but it may remain fairly windy along some coasts of southern and south-western England during Sunday night.

Some coastal routes, seafronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and large waves, with delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport likely, along with disruption to bus and train services.

Parts of the country had more than the monthly average rainfall on Monday and there were further downpours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

About 650 properties were flooded in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the home counties, according to the Environment Agency, which estimated around 8,200 properties had been protected.

Earlier areas affected by the amber rain warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, were hit by flash floods as the Met Office said the regions could have 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours.

Rail services between Shrewsbury in Shropshire and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands were cancelled on Friday after severe flooding at Wellington station and a tree on the line earlier.

The pitch at the SEAH Stadium in Wellington, home to Telford United football club, was completely flooded on Thursday evening.

Trains between Peterborough in the East Midlands and London King’s Cross were delayed because of flooding.

The Marston Vale line in Bedfordshire, which operates services between Bedford and Bletchley, is suspended until Monday because of standing water on the track.

National Highways said the M5 in Gloucestershire was closed northbound between junctions 16 and 14 because of flooding.

The motorway had reopened southbound between junctions 14 and 15, but hour-long delays and up to four miles of congestion continued both ways.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service previously said it was working with National Highways South West to rescue people stranded on the M5 in Gloucestershire.