Met Office Weather Warning: Rain Set to Lash UK with Flooding Risk and Disruption
A yellow Met Office weather warning for rain has been issued across parts of the UK, with forecasters cautioning of heavy downpours, strong winds, and potential disruption through Wednesday.
The alert, which covers much of south-west England and South Wales, runs from midnight until 2pm. By Tuesday morning, the zone was extended to take in areas of south-east England as conditions worsened.
The warning arrives just as meteorological summer closes, bringing an abrupt seasonal shift. Temperatures have dipped, skies have turned unsettled, and the transition to autumn is marked by turbulent weather after what was confirmed as the UK’s hottest summer on record.
Adding to the spectacle, the Northern Lights dazzled many overnight on Monday. Glowing skies were captured as far south as Ireland’s West Cork, with reports flooding in from Scotland, northern England, and the Midlands.
Yet, forecasters warned viewing opportunities would be limited by Tuesday night as cloud thickens.
The Met Office has cautioned that “heavy rain may cause travel disruption and flooding in places.” Power cuts, rail delays, and longer commutes are all possible, with bus and train services expected to suffer.
The yellow weather warning for rain has been updated to also include parts of southeast England ⚠️
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Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/1PkHjFT5dl
— Met Office (@metoffice) September 3, 2025
Rebekah Hicks, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, warned: **“We’re expecting a band of heavy rain and strong winds to move north-east through the first part of Wednesday, followed by heavy showers and the risk of thunderstorms.
Some of these could bring hail and gusty winds, particularly in southern areas.
“Of course, the warning coincides with the first school run after the summer holidays for some, meaning a wet and potentially disruptive start to the day for many.”**
Rainfall totals are set to range between 20mm and 30mm widely, with some unlucky spots seeing as much as 40mm to 60mm in under nine hours. Coastal gales are also possible along the English Channel.
Forecasters suggest conditions will gradually improve by Wednesday afternoon in the South West, though showers will linger further north and east.
Thursday looks unsettled, with sunshine battling against widespread showers and thunderstorms. Western Scotland could see longer spells of rain.
By Friday, the picture improves for southern counties, which should see more sunshine and calmer weather. The North West, however, remains on the stormy side – with wet, windy conditions and even the risk of coastal gales holding on.
