UK weather – live updates: ‘Danger to life’ warning as rain, wind and thunderstorms to batter Britain
Gusts could hit 50mph, say forecasters
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Your support makes all the difference.Flooding could turn deadly as thunderstorms, rain and high winds batter the UK, forecasters have warned.
Gusts could hit 50mph and the Met Office warned of disruption to travel by rail and road, adding that flooding could cut off some communities and pose a “danger to life” on Friday.
Scotland and the far north of England are bracing for damage and flash flooding caused by thunderstorms that are expected on Saturday.
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Thunderstorms and windy, wet weather are expected to grip the UK all weekend, bringing hazardous driving conditions and the potential for floods, writes Andy Gregory.
Yellow weather warnings are in place across the whole of the country until Sunday, at which point England and Wales should see some relief, the Met Office forecasted.
“There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life,” across the UK on Friday, its website said.
Music festivals and other events have been cancelled and drivers warned to limit their travel where possible, as “unseasonable” conditions could bring gusts of up to 50mph and up to 40mm of rain within a few hours.
Downpours in the northeast aren't stopping some from getting out and about.
Swathes of Scotland are on flood alert as heavy rain lashed the country.
Surface water was causing problems for drivers on Friday morning while ferry services were disrupted by strong winds.
It followed localised flooding earlier in the week which led to the cancellation of some train services between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Firefighters were deployed to drain the Winchburgh Tunnel near Broxburn in West Lothian after 50mm of rainfall in the area the previous day.
ScotRail said services had begun again on Friday.
Additional reporting by PA
The Environment Agency has 10 flood alerts in force for England. They are:
Loughborough Urban Watercourses
Lower River Soar in Leicestershire
River Chew Catchment
River Cole
River Cole and Dorcan Brook
River Leen and Day Brook in Nottinghamshire
River Maun in Nottinghamshire
River Sow and River Penk
Upper River Irwell catchment with Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstal-l
Upper River Swale
Meanwhile, Scotland's Environmental Protection Agency has 14, covering practically the entire country.
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