UK weather: More than 180 flood alerts in place as heavy rain disrupts travel

Over the weekend more than 13,000 lost power due to the snow in Cumbria. Credit: PA

More than 180 flood alerts have been issued across the UK as heavy rain replaced snow as the big as the nation’s major weather concern.

The Met Office warned of further rain and ice across the UK as the Environment Agency issued more than 60 flood warnings across England.

At 6am on Tuesday, 69 flood warnings – where flooding is expected – were in place, mainly in Dorset, Somerset and across the Midlands.

There were a further 182 flood alerts, where flooding is considered possible.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain for the north east coast of England until 9am on Tuesday with a further warning for ice across the extreme north of Scotland – where temperatures dipped as low as minus 10C overnight – until 11am.

CrossCountry Trains said heavy flooding was blocking lines between Edinburgh Waverley and Newcastle with industrial action by train drivers adding to disruption.

Rail users in the south west have also been warned flooding would affect services.

Great Western Railway said flooding had caused significant disruption on Monday and advised people not to travel between Bristol and Exeter or any trip between London Paddington and Devon or Cornwall.

The company said: “We are expecting disruption between London Paddington and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall into Tuesday morning as floods subside.”

Snow in Cumbria left hundreds of homes without power. Credit: PA

Passengers on long-distance services were advised to avoid travelling by train if possible in the morning.

Snow has continued to make life difficult in parts of the country with Cumbria Police saying they expected conditions to be “challenging” for the rest of the week, although the major incident declared in the area has been ended.

The Met Office said rain would ease across England and Wales with brighter spells later, but another cold day will see wintry showers in the north and north west.

Cloud will remain overnight in the south and south east with frost and some freezing fog forming by dawn.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the risk of snow was lessening and would “more or less be confined to Scottish mountains” by the end of the week.

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