The Met Office has issued a critical warning for UK households in 32 areas, urging them to prepare an emergency flood kit. This comes as heavy rainfall has been experienced across parts of the nation over the last couple of days and is expected to continue, particularly in parts of Scotland, South Wales, and south-west England. The weather agency has emphasized that "flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible" and is urging Brits in the impacted areas to ensure they stay safe in the event that it does happen. The risk comes as heavy rainfall has been experienced across parts of the nation over the last couple of days and is expected to continue, particularly in parts of Scotland, South Wales, and south-west England. Andy Page, Met Office Chief Forecaster, said: "Unsettled weather continues for many across the UK with persistent and heavy rain in parts of Scotland with snow over higher ground, and strong winds and heavy rain in southwestern England and southern Wales. Elsewhere while it’ll be a breezy weekend there will be brighter and drier spells with occasional showers passing through fairly quickly."
As heavy showers are expected to continue into Sunday, January 25, households in certain areas have been advised to check whether their property is at risk of flooding and to prepare a flood plan and an emergency kit. This includes essential items such as insurance documents, a torch, a wind-up or battery radio, warm clothing and blankets, a first aid kit and any prescription medicine, bottled water and non-perishable food. The full list of areas that have been issued the warning can be found below:
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Angus
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Dorset
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Pembrokeshire
- Perth and Kinross
- Plymouth
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Somerset
- Swansea
- Torbay
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
