THE Met Office has issued severe weather warnings across the UK as heavy rain is expected to continue falling on saturated ground.
The organisation warned that journey times are likely to be made longer due to spray and flooding on roads, while bus and train services will probably be affected.
It is also likely that some homes and business will experience flooding as up to 80mm of rain falls in some parts of the west of the UK.
In Scotland, there are flood alerts for Fife, Tayside, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee and Angus, and Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.
Neil Armstrong, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “After a relatively calm day on Wednesday, wet and windy weather will move in from the west on Wednesday night.
“Low pressure will drive several days of unsettled conditions with heavy rainfall the main concern.
“We have issued a number of severe weather warnings for rain across the UK, as much as 80mm of rain could fall in some areas of the west, particularly higher ground.
“Higher ground in eastern Scotland could even see up to 100mm of rain. Our warnings are likely to be updated so keep up to date with the Met Office forecast.
“The rain will be falling on already very wet ground and where there is still lying snow in the north-west of England and parts of Scotland, snow melt will exacerbate the risk of flooding.
“It is important to check for flood warnings in your area issued by your local environment agency.”
Yellow weather warnings have been issued for Thursday in the South West and south Wales, the Midlands, parts of Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Met Office said areas of low pressure will bring wet and windy conditions, displacing the cold weather that has seen frosts, snow and ice in some regions.
It is expected that the highest rain totals will be focused in western parts of the UK over the next few days, falling on already sodden ground.
A second low pressure will see heavy rain through Thursday and further weather fronts during Friday and Saturday morning.
There will then be a “brief calmer spell” in the southern half of the UK as a ridge of higher pressure moves in through Saturday afternoon, though showery rain will continue in the north, the Met Office said.
Another area of low pressure could move close to Northern Ireland on Sunday, bringing strong winds and further spells of rain.
There are currently 22 flood warnings and 111 flood alerts in place across England.
In Wales, there is one flood alert for South Pembrokeshire.
