Overview
- Amber rain warnings are in force from noon to midnight today with wider yellow alerts for rain and wind covering much of England and Wales.
- Forecasters warn of 60–80mm of rain widely with up to 150mm over higher ground in Wales and local totals approaching a month’s worth in 24 hours.
- Strong easterly winds add risk, with 50–60mph gusts common and up to 70mph in exposed western areas, including around 55mph in Greater Manchester this evening.
- The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales report likely surface‑water and river flooding and have teams preparing and operating defences while councils announce precautionary closures.
- Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange rain warning for Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow from 2pm today to 11am Saturday with additional Yellow rain and wind alerts for other counties.