Britain is to be battered by Storm Babet in a matter of hours when it begins its ravaging path across the UK.
According to the Met Office “extremely” heavy rain and high winds will be what Babet has in store for much of the country.
Scotland looks set to be hit hardest with a month’s worth of rain predicted to fall in just a few days.
The second named storm of the season will last from Wednesday to Saturday, the Met Office said and is expected to cause flooding, power cuts and travel disruption.
Yellow severe weather warnings have been issued across the four days for a vast swathe of the UK, covering much of Scotland, eastern Northern Ireland, the northeast of England, Yorkshire, the East Midlands and East Anglia.
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As much as 150 to 200mm of rain is expected to fall on central and eastern areas of Scotland and there is a possibility of 70mph gale-force winds affecting northern parts of the UK, forecasters warned.
Scotland typically receives 168mm of rainfall in October, but the country will receive more than this amount in just a few days.
Maps from weather monitoring firm WXCharts show bright yellow and orange patches over the country where the heaviest rain is forecast to strike.
The heavy rain may also cause “fast-flowing and deep floodwater” that could pose a “danger to life”, there is also a chance of essential services like gas, water and mobile phone signals to be disrupted.
Parts of England can expect more than 100mm of rainfall during the week with some isolated areas facing up to 150mm.
Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: “A disruptive period of weather is on the way.
“There’s some high totals (of rain) which have the potential to disrupt travel plans … (the) possibility of power cuts as well as the obvious risk of flooding.
“As you look at Wednesday, the first pulse of rain is looking to particularly influence Northern Ireland, Wales and the southwest of England, and into Thursday.
“But it’s as you move from Thursday and into the week that shift very much focuses more towards central and eastern Scotland, but also some central and eastern areas of England as well.”
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David Morgan, flood duty manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “Storm Babet will bring heavy rain and high winds across Scotland from Wednesday evening, starting in the south west before moving across to the north east through Thursday and into the weekend.
“Flood alerts and warnings will be issued as required, and we continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7.
“Impacts from surface water and rivers are likely, and with catchments saturated from recent heavy rain and flooding, we’re urging people to be prepared for potential flooding. There is also concern that surface water flooding may be exacerbated by debris blocking drainage, culverts, etc as a result of the high winds.
“If you live or work in an area that could be affected, consider any steps you need to take now to be prepared and stay safe, and to take extra care if you need to travel.
“If you have not already signed up to Floodline, you can do so now to receive free updates for where you live, or travel through, directly to your phone. Follow SEPA’s social media, especially SEPAflood on X for the latest information.”
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has urged the public to exercise “extreme caution,” particularly along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.
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