The Met Office has issued a new weather warning for heavy rain in the South West, with Somerset bracing for significant rainfall on Thursday, January 22. The alert is in effect from 8am until 4pm, highlighting the potential for travel disruption and flooding across the region.
Forecasters predict persistent showers and prolonged heavy spells throughout the day. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 15mm are expected widely over a few hours, with some locations potentially seeing up to 20mm. Given the already saturated ground, this could trigger localized flooding and cause transportation challenges.
According to the Met Office forecast: “Frequent showers and some longer spells of rain, heavy at times, are likely during Thursday. Given saturated ground, this may lead to some flooding and transport disruption. The heaviest rain will clear northeastwards by late afternoon.”
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Travelers should anticipate delays on public transport, with bus and train services likely affected by cancellations or disruptions. Driving conditions could be hazardous due to road spray and flooding, so motorists are urged to plan routes carefully and allow extra time for journeys.
Somerset faces over a 95% chance of rain throughout the day, particularly intense between 9am and 11am. This probability gradually reduces to around 60% by 4pm when the yellow weather warning is scheduled to be lifted. Alongside the rain, some windy periods are expected with gusts reaching up to 13 mph. Temperatures will be slightly milder than recent days, with highs around 9°C and lows near 3°C.
Residents are advised to stay informed and prepared as the wet weather moves through the region.