Heavy rain is set to come in tonight and hit Blackburn as well as other parts of East Lancashire, with the Met Office having issued a yellow weather warning.

Frequent heavy showers across the region could lead to flooding and disruption to travel between 6pm tonight (December 31) and New Year’s Day 2024.

The warning covers most of Lancashire, including Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Preston and Blackpool – going as far north as Carnforth and stretching east and over the border into West Yorkshire.

The Met Office says flooding of homes and businesses is possible while spray and flooding on roads could make journey times longer.

Public transport services will also be affected with journey times taking longer.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Frequent heavy showers merging into some longer spells of rain through Sunday evening and overnight. 10-20 mm of rain falling and possibly 30-40 mm in a few places over a 12-hour period.

“Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.

“Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.”

It is the second weather warning to be issued this week for the area, after another yellow warning was put in place on Boxing Day until December 27.

Blackburn’s hour-by-hour forecast until New Year’s Day morning according to BBC Weather:

  • 2pm. Light rain showers. 8°C.
  • 3pm. Light rain. 7°C
  • 4pm. Heavy rain. 7°C
  • 5pm. Light rain showers. 7°C
  • 6pm. Heavy rain. 7°C
  • 7pm. Light rain showers. 7°C
  • 8pm. Light rain showers. 7°C
  • 9pm. Light rain showers. 7°C
  • 10pm. Light rain showers. 6°C
  • 11pm. Light rain showers. 6°C
  • 12am. Light rain showers. 7°C
  • 1am. Light rain showers. 7°C
  • 2am. Light rain showers. 6°C
  • 3am. Light rain showers. 6°C
  • 4am. Light rain showers. 6°C
  • 5am. Light rain showers. 6°C
  • 6am. Light rain showers. 6°C