Overview
- The warning, in force from 9am to 10pm Thursday, now spans the South, the Midlands, the South West and parts of eastern England, including outer south London.
- Forecasters expect 20–30 mm of rain widely with 40–50 mm in a few spots on already waterlogged catchments, increasing the likelihood of surface‑water flooding.
- Strengthening winds are expected through the afternoon and evening, with 35–45 mph in southern areas and gusts near 50 mph along exposed coasts.
- The Environment Agency lists three flood warnings and around 40 alerts in England, and officials caution of longer road and rail journeys and isolated power interruptions; heavy rain is likely in the West Midlands from mid‑afternoon.
- Private model guidance signals a possible late‑January snow spell, while the Met Office notes a colder turn is plausible later in the month but remains uncertain.