BRITONS are bracing for Storm Babet to hit the country with the Met Office warning of showers as temperatures plunge to -2C.
Wet and wintry weather will continue this week with heavy rain and strong winds.
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Storm Babet heads for the UK on Tuesday
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A frosty and foggy morning in Oxfordshire Credit: Rex
Britons experienced a drop in the mercury and battle with snow in Scotland yesterday, with many experiencing sub-zero freezing conditions overnight.
Temperatures fell below freezing to -2.2C in the Scottish Highlands early this morning, while the coldest place in England was Charlwood in Surrey at -1.4C
Now the Met Office has labeled Storm Babet as the second storm of the season.
Forecasters have issued an emergency warning that Wednesday’s storm will bring “extremely heavy rain” that will “cause flooding and disruption”.
Meanwhile, “strong south-easterly winds” are likely to accompany the rain, “exacerbating any impacts”, the Met Office said.
Meteorologists warn that rainfall will be “exceptionally” heavy, especially in east and central Scotland.
A rain warning is in effect for the area, where up to 150 to 200mm of rain could fall in some higher areas.
There is a chance of gale-force winds of 70mph to hit northern parts of the UK, the Met Office has warned.
The National Forecaster has issued yellow weather warnings for rain for various areas of Scotland from 6am on Thursday until midnight on Saturday.
Featured areas include Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates said: “Storm Babet will bring heavy rain to many parts of the UK, but particularly to parts of eastern Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England later this week.
“Heavy and prolonged rain will fall on already saturated ground bringing the risk of flooding. It is important to follow the warnings of the local flood warning agency as well as local authorities.
“In addition to heavy rain, Storm Babet will also bring very strong winds and large waves near some eastern coasts. Wind gusts in excess of 60mph are possible in eastern and northern Scotland from Thursday. Met Office warnings are likely to be updated throughout the week.”
David Morgan, Head of Floods at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “Impacts to surface water and rivers are likely, and with catchments saturated from recent heavy rain and flooding, we are urging people to be prepared for the potential floods.”
He added that there was concern that surface flooding could worsen due to debris blown down by strong winds and blocking drains.
Unsettled weather is expected to become widespread from mid-week, but will begin on Tuesday.
The Met Office said: “Wet and increasingly windy weather will first move into south-west England and Wales on Tuesday, eventually spreading across the UK by Wednesday.”
Across the UK many experienced the first frost of autumn thanks to the cold conditions.
The Met Office says it will be another “quite cold day” in the UK after a cold start this morning.
But forecasters say there will be plenty of sunny spells once the morning mist or fog clears.
There could be scattered showers in the extreme north and extreme southeast, but they will be mostly weak.
However, forecasters say that it will be mostly dry overnight, but it will cool down again with the possible occurrence of local frost.
But the Met Office says this is not expected to be as widespread as previous nights as cloud will increase from the south-west.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, forecasters are predicting a mostly dry day with bright and sunny spells for many.
Meteorologists believe that later it will be windy from the southwest, and some rain will fall in these parts.
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A yellow weather warning is in place across the UK from Tuesday
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The storm will continue to affect the UK on FridayCredit: MET Office
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Winter conditions will also hit the country on ThursdayCredit: MET Office
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Storm Babet will bring wind and rain on WednesdayCredit: MET Office
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Frost on the leaves after a cold night in Dunsden, OxfordshireCredit: Rex
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Residents battle rain and high winds in Manchester on FridayCredit: LNP
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Huge waves hit the coast at Tynemouth in the North East on Sunday afternoon Credit: Ian Sproat/pictureexclusive.com
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