UK Weather: Met Office issues yellow warning for southern England & south Wales - more rain follows Storm Debi

More rainfall is set to batter some parts of the UK following Storm Debi with a yellow weather warning in place. The Met Office said rain will continue to affect southern England and south Wales on Thursday (November 16), with 30-40mm of rain likely to fall across the south coast. 

The warning, which comes after southern England was battered by Storm Debi earlier this week, is in place from midnight to 6pm and spans the entirety of the English south coast, including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, East and West Sussex and large parts of Kent and Hampshire. In southern Wales, the cities of Cardiff, Swansea and St David’s will also be affected.

Localised flooding and travel disruption could impact the South West through the morning rush hour and the South East in the afternoon, which the Met Office said could also cause interruption to power supplies and other services. Ellie Glaisyer, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “In terms of the rain, that will gradually be spreading from the South West through the latter part of this evening and the early part of Thursday morning, and slowly tracking its way eastwards. It will gradually clear away towards the south east as we go through the afternoon, hence the warning finishing at 6pm.”

Strong winds are also anticipated, with gusts of up to 50mph on the coast and a chance of 60mph in west Cornwall. However, the gusty conditions will be strongest in the early morning and will progressively ease throughout the day.

The northern part of the country will have a dry day with some sunshine, but an organised band of showers will rush across Northern Ireland, western Scotland, and northern England in the afternoon and evening before clearing. Ms Glaisyer added that the majority of the rain will pass across the country overnight, with Friday "probably the driest day of the week" with plenty of sunshine in the north and east.

UK 5-day weather forecast

Wednesday (November 15) 

Rain in the north will ease and patchy fog and frost will form under clear skies. Rain and strong winds reaching southwest England by late evening and spreading northeast overnight, reaching South Wales and London by dawn.

Thursday (November 16)

Outbreaks of heavy rain will affect much of South Wales, central and southern England, turning showery in the southwest later. Mainly dry elsewhere with sunny spells. Blustery in the south.

Outlook for Friday (November 17)  to Sunday (November 19)

A generally dry and bright day on Friday with rain fading. Turning wet and windy again on Saturday with some showers lingering into Sunday. Becoming milder into the weekend.