After a week of weather warnings for snow and ice, the Met Office has issued one for rain that covers a large part of Wales. The forecasting service is warning that up to 100mm could fall in some parts, and says that windy conditions will add further difficulties.
Chief forecaster Dan Suri says that an area of low pressure moving eastward has already brought mild and blustery weather for much of England and Wales at the start of the week, and more wet weather is on the way.
He added: “As we head through the second half of the week conditions turn milder, wetter and windier from the west. This change to milder conditions will be preceded by some snow over parts of northern England and Scotland later on Wednesday, mainly over higher ground.”
On Tuesday morning the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain in 16 counties of Wales that is in place from midnight on Thursday until 5pm. It says: "Rain is expected to set in during Wednesday evening, turning particularly heavy and persistent overnight especially over southwest facing hills. 40-70 mm is likely quite widely, with the wettest spots possibly seeing in excess of 100 mm of rain.
"The rain will be coupled with generally windy conditions which is likely to further reduce visibility from spray. Conditions will slowly improve through Thursday afternoon."
There are currently 14 flood alerts and one flood warning in place in Wales. Natural Resources Wales says the warning is on the Rive Severn at Pool Quay and Trewern. There are also reports of flooding at the A487 Dyfi Bridge in Machynlleth, Powys. and on the A490 at Welshpool in Powys.
The A490 is flooded between the Sarn Bryn Caled roundabout and Mid Wales Airport.
The Met Office outlook for Wales for the rest of the week says: "After a fine start for most on Wednesday, cloud soon builds with rain and hill snow, moving across Wales through the day. Feeling cold and turning windy overnight. Maximum temperature 9 °C.
"Remaining unsettled with showers, heavy at times, and longer spells of rain into the weekend. Often windy though turning milder."
The weather warning in Wales covers the following areas:
- Blaenau Gwent
- Caerphilly
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Gwynedd
- Isle of Anglesey
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Pembrokeshire
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Torfaen
- Wrexham.
The Met Office long range UK forecast for the weekend and into next week says: "Saturday is likely to be rather cloudy with showers or longer spells of rain possible for many, although generally rather mild, while parts of the north could see continuing sleet or snow accompanied by some strong winds.
"More widespread showery rain remains possible on Sunday with some wintry showers and colder conditions spreading southwards, followed by a drier period with some frost and ice on Monday morning. Towards the end of March, pressure may become higher across northern areas and will likely be accompanied by colder conditions, whilst southern areas could see further wet weather at times. The northern edge of any rain will still be prone to fall as snow, but given the time of year, wintry hazards will likely become increasingly transient."
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