Met Office tells Brits living in 3 areas to prepare 'emergency' kit for 12 hours
The Met Office says people living in three regions should consider preparing an 'emergency' kit for this weekend due to the risk of flooding caused by heavy rain
The Met Office has warned Brits living in three areas of the country to prepare an "emergency" kit which may be necessary for 12 hours on Sunday.
The weather forecast says heavy rain will spread across the whole of Northern Ireland on Saturday night and continue until Sunday morning. A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued from midnight until midday, as the Met Office warned of the risk of flooding, power cuts and delayed journeys on the road.
The warning is in force across County Antrim, County Armagh and County Down. Forecasters said the rain will be heaviest in the southeast, where 20mm to 30mm is likely. Over the Mournes 60-100 mm could build up in the early hours of Sunday morning, the Met Office warned.
Forecasters said residents should check if their property could be at risk of flooding. If so, the Met Office has advised people to prepare a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.
In case power cuts occur, residents should also prepare some essential items including torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items. Currently, there are no more weather warnings in force over the coming days.
Meanwhile, forecasters say sun may break through the overcast skies for periods in parts of the UK on Saturday following a week of gloomy weather. The so-called anticyclonic gloom, brought about by an anticyclone or high-pressure system settled over the country, has caused the grey conditions this week, according to the weather service.
The phenomenon occurs when air sinks towards the ground under high pressure, trapping a thin layer of moisture or low cloud close to the surface which the October sun cannot break through. Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: "We'll definitely see the best of any sunshine, as we have seen, in probably eastern areas. It's hard to say exactly where we'll see the sunniest spells but it might just feel a bit brighter than we've seen recently."
She warned it could still be a cloudy day for many but with "a few more breaks in the cloud on Saturday compared to what we've seen recently". Ms Glaisyer said there will probably be "quite a damp start" to Sunday with most places likely to see rain throughout the day and windier conditions as well.
The beginning of next week is set to bring more rain to the country, with some blustery showers expected on Monday. Temperatures will be near normal, the Met Office said. The long-range forecast from Wednesday, October 22 to Friday, October 31 says an unsettled weather pattern is likely to dominate across the UK.
It reads: "Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, and strong winds are expected to spread from the southwest as a deep area of low pressure crosses the UK later next week. This system will likely move away to leave the following weekend showery and cooler.
"Into the following week, conditions are expected to be changeable with showers or longer spells of rain across many parts of the UK. The wettest weather will probably be in parts of the north or northeast, with the southwest driest overall. Temperatures are expected to be close to or slightly below normal for the time of year."