Half-term travel chaos as rain and 75mph winds to hit THIS WEEK - see if you're affected

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Thursday, October 23, with gusts of up to 75mph and heavy rain expected. The rain warning will remain in place for 21 hours

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Families planning for the half-term break are being urged to prepare for severe weather conditions sweeping across the UK.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Thursday, 23 October, with gusts of up to 75mph and heavy rain expected. The rain warning will remain in place for 21 hours, from midnight until 9pm.

The storm is set to impact a vast area, including southern and eastern England, London, Kent, Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, parts of the East Midlands, and west Wales.

To find out if your area is affected, enter your postcode on the Met Office website or app, which shows detailed risk zones.

The Met Office is advising the public to monitor weather updates regularly, especially those travelling or staying in exposed or flood-prone areas.

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The storm is likely to bring travel disruption, flooding, and power cuts, with strong winds and persistent rainfall. Up to 50mm of rain could fall in some areas, particularly in Cornwall and North Devon, where the ground is already saturated - raising the risk of localised flooding.

This comes after earlier downpours caused severe flooding in Brighton on Tuesday, where emergency services responded to waterlogged roads and flooded homes.

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts in parts of southern England, including East Sussex and Kent, and is continuing to monitor high-risk zones.

Half term for most schools runs from Monday, 27 October to Friday, 31 October, overlapping with the stormy conditions. Many families are expected to travel this weekend, making the timing particularly disruptive for early holidaymakers.

The storm is forecast to arrive late Wednesday night, intensifying through Thursday as it moves northeast across the country.

Those heading to holiday parks, campsites, or caravans are advised to take extra care, as outdoor accommodation may be especially vulnerable to strong winds.

Drivers should prepare for reduced visibility, surface water, and the risk of fallen trees or blocked roads, particularly in rural or exposed locations.

Rail and ferry services could also face delays or cancellations if conditions worsen as expected.

Looking ahead, the Met Office's radar suggests widespread rain may persist into the weekend, meaning unsettled weather could continue into the early part of the half-term week.

Here are all the areas affected:

East Midlands

East of England

London & South East England

North East England

South West England

Wales

West Midlands

Yorkshire & Humber