Met Office issues flood warnings as heavy rain and gales threaten parts of the UK

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings across Wales, northern England and the Midlands as a band of heavy rain and gusts of up to 75 mph threatens travel and homes. Forecasters warned some areas could see as much as 80 mm of rain, with higher totals possible in urban areas. The Environment Agency said high lake levels near Keswick Campsite in the Lake District are causing flooding and that conditions are expected to persist through the weekend. Communities have been told to expect difficult driving conditions, possible power cuts and travel disruptions. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: "Through this period, 20-30 mm of rain is expected to fall widely across Wales and northern England, with some locations perhaps seeing 60-80 mm. Where these higher rainfall amounts fall remains uncertain and it is possible that this warning may be updated if confidence increases, particularly if the heaviest rain falls in urban areas. There is also a chance that a short spell of strong, gusty winds could develop as the area of low pressure moves east. Winds will initially strengthen across some western and south-western areas, before migrating north-eastwards, clearing into the North Sea during the early hours of Sunday morning." The warnings will remain in place through Sunday morning.

While not everywhere in the warning area is expected to experience very strong winds, some inland locations may see gusts of 50-60 mph while gusts of 65-75 mph are possible around some coasts. The strongest winds are likely to be along the Bristol Channel and the west Wales coast this afternoon and early evening, then along the North Sea coast of east and northeast England overnight into early Sunday morning. The warnings are in place until Sunday morning, with the rain expected to subside by 3 am and the wind by 4 am. The strongest winds are expected near the Bristol Channel and the west Wales coast. Those living by the coast have been told to avoid walking near cliffs and be aware of large waves.

The weather situation comes as the UK ends a record-setting spell of hot, dry weather. The mean average temperature for the season stands at 16.13C, based on data up to August 25, nearly half a degree above the existing summer record of 15.76C set in 2018. Summer 2025 has featured four heatwaves that pushed temperatures above 30C on multiple days, though none matched the extreme 40.3C peak recorded in July 2022. Still, the warmth has been unusually persistent, and Met Office officials say the combination of a dry spring, persistent high-pressure systems and unusually warm seas around the UK has allowed heat to build quickly and linger. Climate change is also a factor, with the UK warming at roughly 0.25C per decade in recent decades.

This year’s extremes have had consequences for farming. Some crops were stressed by drought in spring, and farmers have faced challenges growing field vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower while feeding cattle and sheep. Analysts at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit caution that the drought and heavy rainfall patterns threaten crop yields and food security. Tom Lancaster, a farming analyst at ECIU, said that farming in a changing climate carries "huge implications for our farmers, food production and UK food security." He added: "Farmers need more and better support to adapt to these extremes. There is now a real urgency to ensure that support to invest in healthier soils and other green farming measures that can boost resilience is once again made available."

The drought and heat have already affected yields. Official projections suggest that this year's harvest could be Britain's fifth worst since records began in 1984, with drought and heat reducing yields of staple crops such as wheat and oats. Last year’s harvest was the third worst on record, a trend analysts say is tied to increasingly volatile weather. In light of ongoing weather volatility, farmers and agriculture groups call for increased investment in soil health, water retention, drought-resistant crops and other resilience measures to safeguard production and food supply chains.