UK weather: Further heavy rain set to batter parts of Britain this week

Forecasters have warned that more heavy downpours are expected across the UK throughout the rest of the first working week of January.

The warning comes as December was noted as the wettest month ever recorded, with severe flooding in many parts of the country.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for rain in parts of Scotland, Wales, and the north of England for Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 January. Scotland will see the worst of the rainfall on 7 January, with an amber rain warning having been issued for some parts.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: "Further heavy and prolonged rain is expected on Thursday across much of eastern Scotland. Given the earlier exceptionally wet weather, with high river levels and saturated ground, please be prepared for further surface water and river flooding, as well as disruption to transport."

The Met Office has said that 30-50mm of additional rainfall is expected in parts of Scotland, with as much as 60mm over higher ground, where it could fall as snow. The Environment Agency had 19 flood warnings in place in England and Wales on 6 January.

Northeast England is also expected to see exceptionally heavy rainfall on 7 January, with a yellow "be aware" warning in place for this region. Forecasters have warned that 10-20mm of rain is expected here, with up to 30mm on higher grounds.

While December was also noted as the mildest December month on record, forecasters are now warning that temperatures could begin to drop from next week. Conditions are also expected to become drier, with the worst of the wet weather said to be over.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "A north or north-westerly airflow will push Arctic air across the UK bringing weather fairly typical for January. By the middle of next week daytime temperatures are likely to be in the range of 0-5<sup>C."