Flood alerts have been issued across the country ahead of torrential rain as councils work on barricading homes for protection.
A total of 25 flood warnings and 76 flood alerts have been issued as the Met Office predict extremely unsettled conditions across the weekend.
It comes as the Met Office issue yellow weather warnings for rain in parts of Wales and the south west of England.
Heavy rain is expected to hit overnight and into Saturday morning with warnings over driving conditions becoming dangerous and possible cancellations to train and rail journeys.
Environment Agency erected flood barriers along the swollen River Severn, Worcestershire, in anticipation of a further increase in water levels.
As well as predicted rain, wintry showers will also bring snow in northern parts of the UK with several centimetres set to fall on Sunday morning, according to maps from WXCharts.
The indication is that it will get colder still by mid January where there could be up to 25 centimetres falling in Scotland and flurry in northern England.
BBC weather forecaster Darren Bett said: "We’ve got this strong and blustery wind, that’s going to feed in some sunshine but we are also going to find quite a few showers, some of those are going to be heavy and it is just about cold enough for a little bit of snow over the tops of the mountains."
His colleague Ben Rich also said: “The week ahead does bring some slightly chillier weather at times but certainly nothing unusually cold for this time of year."
Looking ahead he said: "Our area of low pressure is likely to pass to the north west of the UK as we move through Saturday night into Sunday.
"Lots of isobars squeezing together on this chart, that implies some quite strong and gusty winds and there will be frequent showers on Sunday, some heavy with hail and thunder. Perhaps wintry in the north because it will be a little chillier by this stage 7C to 9C but that is not unusual for this time of year."
UK 5 day weather forecast
Headline:
Wet and windy for a time tonight and Saturday.
This Evening and Tonight:
Spells of rain, heavy at times, will affect most parts, especially the west and southwest. Becoming drier and clearer across Northern Ireland later. Windy too with occasional gales in southern coastal areas.
Saturday:
Early cloud and rain, heavy at times, will gradually clear eastwards. Sunny spells will follow, along with showers, heavy at times. Windy.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Gales or severe gales for northwestern areas Sunday. Otherwise, showers for Sunday and Monday for most. Mainly dry and cold Monday night, before more rain and strong winds Tuesday.
