The United Kingdom is bracing for continued heavy rainfall this week, according to a warning from the Met Office, following destructive flash floods caused by recent thunderstorms.
A two-day alert has been issued for Wales and northwest England, indicating the possibility of significant hailstorms, and this warning will remain in effect until Wednesday at 6 pm.
This warning follows substantial rainfall in parts of Devon and Somerset on Sunday, where more than a month's worth of rain fell in a single day, resulting in flooding and the subsequent closure of Exeter Airport and Butlins in Minehead.
As of Monday, eleven flood warnings are still active across the UK, impacting various areas including the Cumbrian coastline, the River Cole in Swindon, and the River Gwash in Ryhall and Newstead, Lincolnshire.
On Tuesday, the unsettled weather is expected to persist, with the Met Office issuing a two-day yellow warning for heavy rain in Wales and northwest England, including Manchester, starting at 6 am. The Met Office has cautioned that residential and business areas could face flooding, and there may be disruptions to bus and train services.
Looking further ahead, the Met Office anticipates "cloud and rain quickly spreading in from the west through the morning, though after a spell of rain, drier conditions with some bright spells are expected for southern parts of the UK. Windy conditions are also anticipated."
For the remainder of the week, the Met Office predicts "unsettled and rather autumnal" weather with changeable conditions.
Exeter Airport has reopened on Monday morning and has encouraged travelers to stay updated with their airlines for status updates. An airport spokesperson expressed gratitude for the dedication of airport staff who worked tirelessly through the night to clean up after the flash floods and expressed their eagerness to welcome passengers as usual.
The Met Office noted that the showers have been "highly localized," with the airport receiving 57.4mm of rainfall, while Swindon in Wiltshire experienced 90.7mm of rain overnight. These showers have since moved to areas in the East Midlands, where Nottingham and parts of Lincolnshire received 40-45mm of rainfall on Monday.
The Met Office has warned that conditions are expected to remain "blustery at times" throughout the week and encourages people to stay vigilant with regard to weather forecasts.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey mentioned that there is a possibility of more storms as the remnants of Hurricane Lee, which impacted New England in the US and eastern Canada, are expected to traverse the UK between Tuesday and Thursday. However, it is expected to lose hurricane status by the time it reaches UK shores.
Mr. Vautrey explained, "That will be influenced by the jet stream. Some areas may experience heavy showers with a risk of further thunderstorms. It could be a rather unsettled and autumnal week ahead."
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