Severe weather alert as heavy rain on the way

A SEVERE weather warning has been issued for Wales amid concerns more than a month’s worth of rain could fall in just one day.

The Met Office alert, which is in place from 6am today until 6am tomorrow, suggests a fierce spell of wet weather and possible coastal gales is on the way.

Forecasters said 80mm of rain could fall in parts of the country. Most parts of Wales are expected to see about 60mm of rain in an average June.

The Met Office’s chief forecaster said: “A large area of rain is expected to run across the UK through Monday and into Tuesday.

“A band of this is expected to become slow moving over parts of the area with heavy elements running through it.

“This has the potential to give 80mm of rainfall in a few places during Monday.”

South Wales will hardly have time to dry out before more heavy rain lashes the nation tomorrow and Wednesday night. Thursday also looks set for heavy rain, amid sunny spells.

The poor weather comes the back of last week’s optimism, which led Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge to declare: “Summer starts on Thursday.”

Weather expert Jonathan Powell said: “There’s an unusually deep low pressure system that would normally be associated with autumn.

“The jet stream has moved meaning we should get a bit of a lashing from the rain tomorrow with some strong rain and chances of localised flooding, though the temperature will still be higher than in autumn.

Although Wales is heading into a period of less predictable weather, the outlook for the rest of summer could still improve, Mr Powell said.

“The weather isn’t going to be what you’d usually expect for this time of year over the next two months,” he said.

“The last few years, like this year, have show potential for a really good summer, but a spanner has always ended up in the works.

“Things look like they will be getting better toward the end of June – if anyone is looking at booking a holiday then the best time to go would be last July or early August.”

Heavy rain is forecast for Cardiff from lunchtime today, right through until midnight with the temperature reaching a high of 15°C.

It is set to ease of in the early hours of tomorrow morning with sunny spells forecast before showers and heavy winds move in into the afternoon.

The city can dry off on Wednesday morning before more heavy rain moves in overnight and into Thursday.