Yellow weather warning for rain issued for East Lancashire

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain, which comes into force from midnight tonight until 3am on Tuesday.

It covers all parts of East Lancashire.

In Blackburn, rain is forecast all day on Monday with wind gusts of 22mph forecast.

According to the Met Office, there could be some disruption and flooding as a result.

Spray and flooding on roads could potentially lead to issues on the roads.

The Met Office predicts 20-40 mm of rain to fall with strong also expected to accompany the heavy rain, with gales possible around coasts and over high ground.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster, Mike Silverstone, said: “Wider yellow warnings for rain have also been issued for the southwest and northwest of England, as well as central and northern parts of Wales with disruption also possible in these areas through the day. This is a developing forecast, so it’s important to stay up to date with Met Office warnings in the coming days.”

Richard Preece, Natural Resources Wales’s duty tactical manager, said: “We are asking people to be alert for potential flooding with heavy rain predicted overnight on Sunday into Monday morning, especially in parts of South Wales.

“With some rivers already swollen and the ground saturated, we expect to see a number of flood alerts and warnings issued. We also expect the rain to cause surface water issues.  We’re urging people to be vigilant and to make preparations for potential flooding now. You can check if you live in an area at risk of flooding on our website and sign up for our free flood warning service. 

“We also want to remind people to keep away from swollen riverbanks and not to drive or walk through flood waters as you don’t know what lies beneath. 

“We do not provide flood warnings for flooding from surface water, so it’s important for everyone to know their flood risk. 

“If flooding is forecast in your area, we want to make sure people are doing all they can to keep themselves safe. Think about preparing a flood kit with any important documents and medication, moving your car to higher ground and moving treasured possessions upstairs or to a higher place.”

The Met Office issued a weather warning for ice, which was in force on Saturday and into Sunday morning.

The warning has now been lifted but covered parts of Lancashire.

The warning was in place for Greater Manchester, and West Yorkshire as well as large parts of Cumbria, Cheshire, south Yorkshire, the North East, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

The national weather service said icy stretches could cause some disruption and possibly injuries.