The UK has skilled an “exceptionally moist” begin to 2026 with record-breaking January rainfall as 98 flood warnings are in place and 300 properties flooded
The river Severn has burst its banks in Worcester. (Picture: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Britain has skilled an “exceptionally moist” starting to the 12 months with unprecedented rainfall ranges and no indication of an prolonged dry interval for at the least every week, meteorologists have confirmed.
Nearly 100 places have been issued flooding alerts for Monday as heavy rain persists, with a yellow climate warning lively throughout a lot of southern Wales and England.
The Surroundings Company estimates at the least 300 properties have flooded to this point.
This follows a record-shattering month of precipitation, which turned the wettest January on document for Cornwall in south-west England and County Down in Northern Eire, the Met Workplace reported.
The forecaster famous many really feel winter has been “caught on repeat”, with 26 of its climate stations establishing new January rainfall information.
Britain has already skilled 89% of the common rainfall anticipated for meteorological winter (December, January and February), while England has surpassed it by 11%, it acknowledged.
Areas of Devon, Cornwall, Worcestershire, Somerset and West Sussex have recorded over 30 consecutive days of rainfall, while North Wyke in Devon, Cardinham in Cornwall, and Astwood Financial institution in Worcestershire have witnessed rain each single day of the 12 months to this point.
Chief forecaster Neil Armstrong mentioned: “The previous few weeks have felt relentlessly moist, with repeated bands of rain sweeping in from the Atlantic and creating more and more saturated floor throughout massive components of the UK.
A car is pushed by means of a flooded street between Quorn and Mountsorrel in Leicestershire. (Picture: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
“This persistent unsettled sample has been pushed by a powerful, south-shifted jet stream steering low stress programs instantly in the direction of the UK.”
Flooding and journey chaos are anticipated throughout huge swathes of southern England and Wales on Monday, with 10-15mm of rain anticipated to fall broadly, and as much as 20-30mm doable in uncovered areas, in keeping with the Met Workplace.
The Surroundings Company (EA) issued warnings of anticipated flooding in 98 areas on Monday, predominantly throughout the south of England, across the southern Welsh border and within the East Midlands, with potential flooding in a further 175 areas.
New Highway cricket floor house to Worcestershire County Cricket Membership is flooded (Picture: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Andrew Hitchings, flood obligation supervisor on the Surroundings Company, acknowledged: “With one other band of rain on its method, we’d like the general public to stay vigilant to the danger of flooding.
“In addition to important groundwater remaining doubtless in components of Dorset and Wiltshire, there are dangers of great river flooding impacts on the Somerset Ranges, with minor river flooding impacts anticipated in components of the East Midlands and possible in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
“So way over 16,000 properties and companies have been safeguarded however sadly 300 have skilled flooding and our ideas are with these communities affected.
A flooded Worcester Racecourse following persistent rain. (Picture: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
“Our groups will proceed to do all they’ll to assist native folks, with pumps, short-term boundaries and by clearing waterways to make sure flood water can drain away.”
Senior operational meteorologist Simon Partridge acknowledged: “The climate is about to stay unsettled all through the rest of the week with additional spells of moist and windy climate for a lot of areas of the UK.
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“With a lot rain having already fallen over components of the UK this 12 months, many areas are delicate to additional rainfall. Subsequently, additional rainfall warnings are doubtless because the week progresses.
“There’s presently no signal of any extended dry climate for the following seven to 10 days.”
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