(UK) Gale-force weekend: Brace yourself for 60mph winds and half a month's rain

[Mark]

Emergency services issue a 'major flood' alert in the South-West and Wales as Atlantic front sweeps in
After a dry spell yesterday and today, downpours and gusts are set to return with a vengeance tonight
Environment Agency issues two warnings where flooding was expected and 12 where possible today
Temperatures up to 10C below normal and sunshine down 60 per cent in worst June since records began
By Daily Mail Reporter and Paul Sims
PUBLISHED: 02:17 GMT, 14 June 2012 | UPDATED: 00:10 GMT, 15 June 2012

Batten down the hatches. Another storm threatens to wreak havoc across the country.
Nearly two inches of rain – more than half the average for the entire month – is expected to fall today and tomorrow.
The latest deluge could lead to further flooding across large parts of the country after recent heavy downpours, forecasters warn. And that’s not all. Strong winds of up to 60mph are also expected to cause chaos.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings – the second-highest level of alert – for the South East and East Anglia and announced a further 12 flood alerts in other areas.
It said its specialist teams would closely monitor river levels and use  pumping equipment in the worst-affected areas. The warnings cover 32,500 properties.
This latest storm comes just days after more than three inches, or 80mm, fell in just 24 hours and left homes and roads flooded.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: ‘The heavy rainfall is expected to spread into central and north eastern England on Friday, with heavy showers to follow throughout the day and into Saturday.

'The public should remain vigilant and stay away from swollen rivers and not drive through floodwater.’
The strong winds and heavy rain form part of a bout of low pressure building up over the Atlantic which is set to hit the South West first before spreading across the country.
Met Office forecaster Dan Williams said: ‘Over the next 48-hour period we could see up to 40mm (1.5in) of rain in those areas. Across high ground, particularly Snowdonia, we could possibly see 80mm (3in).
‘There’s been a lot of rain over southern England and Wales over the past week or so and the ground is pretty saturated, so that’s obviously going to be a factor when we get further rain. It could cause quite a few problems.’
He


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159048/Gale-force-weekend-Brace-60mph-winds-half-months-rainfall-just-TWO-days.html#ixzz1xpeeYarQ

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