Rain and snow to cause midweek pain but warmer weather to come

Flooding and travel disruption could affect parts of the UK on Wednesday amid heavy downpours and snow, but warmer weather may be in store this weekend with temperatures forecast to climb into the teens.

Many in the south of England are facing a wet start on Wednesday, with a yellow weather warning for heavy rain in force for an area stretching from Cornwall to Kent until 8am on Thursday.

Some 10-20mm of rain is expected to fall widely, although areas near the south coast could see up to 30mm of rain, while Dartmoor, Devon, could be battered with as much as 50mm, the Met Office said.

A separate yellow warning for snow in the West Midlands and Wales will run from 4pm on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday.

The Met Office has warned there is a small chance that disruption caused by the snow, accompanied by strong winds, could see flights and train services cancelled and leave vehicles stranded on roads.

In Northern Ireland, outbreaks of rain, hill snow and strong gusts of up to 50-55mph winds are expected to bring disruption – with a yellow warning in force until 8pm on Wednesday.

Senior Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said many will see “a very wet and windy morning” on Wednesday, but added those in northern England will be “wondering what’s going on” with a dry day expected for many.

He said: “By the time we get into the late part of the day on Thursday, by that stage, the winds should be clearing away and Thursday will just be a slow improvement day.

“It’s all change after that, by the weekend it will be feeling much, much milder with temperatures reaching the low-to-mid teens, if we see some sunshine.

“There will be further spells of wind and rain but most of us will certainly see an uplift of temperatures as we go into the weekend.”