Met Office issues rare AMBER weather warning as heavy rain to strike Britain

The Met Office has issued a rare amber weather warning as they forecast that heavy rain could lead to mass flooding.

Issued around 10am on Sunday, the warning for heavy rain is set to affect a large area of the Midlands and will touch on Yorkshire & Humber and London and south east England.

The warning will be in place from 5am to 9pm on Monday 23 September.

The Met Office warning read: “Heavy rain is expected to produce some flooding and travel disruption.”

The Met Office warned: “An area of heavy rain is expected to develop across central and southern England during the early of hours of Monday, edging north and west and then becoming slow-moving somewhere across the warning area for several hours.

“It will then weaken and move away eastwards later Monday evening and overnight.

“Not all counties within the warning area will be equally affected, but it seems likely that some areas will see 60-80 mm and a few places may receive 100-120mm or more.

“This is likely to result in travel disruption and some flooding. Lightning may be an additional hazard in places.”

The national weather service adds that the rain could lead to “potentially dangerous road conditions“ and warns that “if you must travel, ensure you watch for possible danger and drive cautiously”.

Additional advice issued warns residents that “it is not safe to drive, walk or swim through floodwater, avoid it where possible and if you are affected by fast flowing or deep-water call 999, and wait for help.“