Floods set to devastate swathes of Britain as Met Office issues multiple weather warnings after Storm Bram chaos

The Met Office has rolled out a series of amber and yellow weather warnings as heavy rain batters northwest England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of Wales throughout the weekend and into next week.

It is shaping up to be a thoroughly miserable few days for millions across the UK, with the warnings stretching right through to Monday evening.

Saturday started bright enough for most of the country, but conditions deteriorated quickly as persistent rainfall swept in from the west during the morning.

By midday, western Scotland, Northern Ireland and northwest England were already experiencing heavy downpours.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: "The northwest of the UK is set for a very wet weekend, with persistent and heavy rain accompanied by strong winds."

Cumbria is bracing for the worst of it, with forecasters warning some areas could see a staggering 200mm of rain over just 48 hours.

An amber warning kicked in at 6am on Sunday and runs until 6pm on Monday for the county.

The Met Office has issued stark warnings about the risks, stating that "fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life."

Homes and businesses face likely flooding, with potential damage to buildings across the region.

More broadly, western Britain's higher ground could accumulate over 100mm, while Northern Ireland's elevated areas might see up to 50mm.

Environment Agency teams have been deployed across affected areas to help reduce flooding impacts and support communities in the firing line.

Jonathan Day, the agency's Flood Duty Manager, said: "We urge people not to drive through flood water: it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car."

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He confirmed significant river and surface water flooding is probable in Cumbria, with wider impacts possible across northern England.

Floods minister Emma Hardy has also stepped in, urging residents in affected areas to heed local guidance and sign up for flood warnings.

The Environment Agency is encouraging people to search "check my flood risk" online and follow @EnvAgency on X for the latest updates.

While the north faces a washout, it is a completely different story for the southern half of the UK.

Dry and bright conditions are expected to continue, with much lighter winds making for a pleasant contrast.

The band of rain will gradually shift southeastward through Sunday night and into Monday, but northwest England's showers aren't expected to clear until late Monday afternoon.

Looking further ahead, more unsettled weather is on the cards.

Another area of low pressure is set to sweep in from the Atlantic on Wednesday, bringing fresh, wet and windy conditions.

The Met Office says it's keeping a close eye on developments as the pattern continues.

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