The rainiest day on record in UK
Met Office has issued yellow weather warning
Commuters have been warned to check their local weather forecast before attempting to travel as heavy rain sweeps across the UK today.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for most of England and parts of Wales amid fears of flooding, says The Telegraph.
The weather warning said: “Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life, and some communities may be cut off by flooded roads.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Delays to trains and buses were also expected, as were difficult driving conditions, possible power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.
The heavy rain is the result of a burst of low pressure moving over the UK, along with warm and humid air linked to Hurricane Humberto, which hit the Bermuda coastline last week.
Forecasters predicted that England and Wales would be hit by 30mm (1.2in) to 50mm (2in) of rain in a short burst on Tuesday, and up to 70mm (2.75in) in some isolated areas.
The poor weather is expected to clear by Wednesday, although a low-pressure front is forecast to remain for the rest of the week.
But as miserable as the weather is now, it is far from the worst that Britain has experienced.
What was the wettest day in the UK?
The wettest day in the UK was on 18 July 1955, when Martinstown in the English county of Dorset was deluged by 279mm (11in) rainfall in a 24-hour period.
Argyll and Bute holds the Scottish record, with 238mm (9.4in) on 17 January 1974, while Glamorgan in Wales was drenched by 211mm (8.3in) of rain on 11 November 1929.
Northern Ireland’s wettest day was on 31 October 1968, when 159mm (6.3in) of rainfall was recorded in County Down.
Where was the wettest day ever in the world?
The World Meteorological Organisation says the wettest 24 hours on record was between 7 and 8 January 1966 in Foc-Foc, a plateau on the French overseas territory of La Reunion, near Madagascar.
In that short space of time, Reunion had 1825mm (72in) of rainfall - equivalent to 6ft of rain.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
It might be time to add a new hurricane category
Under the Radar Any way the wind blows
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The microplastics hurricanes blowing across North America
Under the Radar New research confirms global pervasiveness of harmful microplastic pollution
By The Week Staff Published
-
What to expect from an El Niño winter
The Explainer Things might be different thanks to this well-known weather phenomenon
By Devika Rao Published
-
What’s fuelling the world’s recent wildfires
feature New research says climate change is fanning the flames as more intense fires continue to spread
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet Published
-
The hottest July: America’s Southwest boils in the heat
feature Phoenix residents have suffered burns after falling on the city’s scalding roads
By The Week Staff Published
-
How to make homes cooler without cranking up the air conditioning
feature Air conditioners often become the default solution when temperatures rise but they’re not the only answer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why is extreme weather causing fewer deaths?
feature The changing climate is leading to more disasters but warnings and management of impacts is improving
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
How La Niña and El Niño affect the weather
feature Extreme conditions could worsen as global cooling pattern ends
By Julia O'Driscoll Last updated