BRITS have been warned of torrential rain and thunderstorms as flooded roads could spark Easter travel chaos.
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings across large parts of the UK today.
PAPeople walking in the heavy rain at Plymouth Hoe yesterday[/caption]
Bav MediaDrivers navigating poor conditions on the A14 in Cambridge yesterday[/caption]
MET OfficeThe Met Office has issued to yellow weather warnings for rain today[/caption]
It comes ahead of an estimated 6.2million drivers hitting the road this weekend for Easter journeys.
The first yellow alert for rain covers Wales and the south west of England.
It started from Lands End and reaches all the way up to Liverpool. while encompassing the whole of Wales and stretching out to Bristol.
The notice has been in place from midday on Tuesday and ends at midday on Wednesday.
Met Office meteorologists warned those affected that “flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible”.
Spray and flooding on roads may also increase journey times, as well as delays to bus and train timetables.
There could also be a chance of “interruption to power supplies and other services”.
Elsewhere, the other yellow alert covers Northern Ireland, from Coleraine down to Newry.
It came into effect today at 2am and is in place until 9pm.
The same warnings regarding flooding and torrential downpours apply to those affected.
Wild weather today saw a vital motorway bridge shut in both directions due to strong winds and severe flooding.
The M48 Severn Bridge, which connects England to Wales and is used by 80,000 Brits every day, has closed, forcing drivers onto a diversion route.
Motorists are being redirected onto the second Severn crossing, known as the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, although this has led to congestion building up.
An account for the two Severn crossings posted on X: “The M48 Severn Bridge in South Gloucestershire is CLOSED in both directions between J1 (Aust) and J2 (Chepstow) due to strong winds.
“Traffic is being diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
“Please plan ahead if travelling in the area this morning.”
Meanwhile, Met Office spokesman Craig Snell said coming into the long Easter weekend Brits can expect “changeable” weather.
“Some places will see rain, others some sunshine, depending on where you are in the UK on Thursday and Friday one day will be wetter than the other,” he said.
“Not cold by any means, but compared to the first week of the Easter holidays, the second week does look like a bit more of a mixed bag across the UK.”
Snow may even fall on high land in Scotland, but it could also land on the northern Pennines.
“We’re talking about the tops of the mountains, at lower levels we’re not going to see anything white falling from the sky,” said Mr Snell.
“We’re still climbing our way through spring, to see snow across the mountains of Scotland and England in April is not unusual.”
This comes as the worst time to travel over the bank holiday has also been revealed.
It is set to be the busiest Easter for road users since 2022 when Brits had just come out of lockdown, according to the RAC.
Research suggests that holiday seekers will face severe traffic on Thursday, Friday and Sunday around this upcoming break.
Drivers are estimated to plan around 2.7 million trips every day during this busy period.
The number of trips will slightly drop on Easter Sunday to 2.5 million, before jumping up again to a further 2.7 million on Bank Holiday Monday when millions are set to return home.
The Bank Holiday Monday will come just before many schools open up again to signal the new term.
On Thursday April 17, the best time to set off would be before 12pm, while the worst time to leave would be between 2pm and 7pm.
On Good Friday, motorists have been told to leave home before 10am, and the heaviest traffic is expected between then and 5pm.
The best time to leave the following day, Saturday April 19, will be before 10:30am or after 2pm, while the worst time to travel is expected to be between 11am and 1pm.
For those travelling on Easter Sunday, setting off after 1pm wil be ideal as the worst time on the roads is predicted to be between 11am and 1pm.
Motorists returning home on Easter Monday should set off before 11am – as experts stressed that road users should avoid journeys between 11am and 6pm.
UK five day weather forecast
The Met Office;
Today:
Rain, heavy at times, moving slowly north today, with the heaviest rain in the west. Brighter conditions following across the south, with a few showers developing. A blustery day for many and feeling chilly under the cloud and rain.
Tonight:
Rain in the north gradually becoming confined to Scotland and northern England overnight. Otherwise, largely dry with clear spells, allowing it to turn chilly, with a rural frost developing.
Thursday:
Cloud and rain across Scotland easing but perhaps lingering all day in places. Elsewhere, a day of sunshine and a few showers. Feeling a little warmer, especially in any sunshine.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Remaining changeable as we move into the Easter weekend. Further spells of rain likely, especially across western areas, although some sunnier intervals also expected. Temperatures likely to remain near average.
PAFlooding of homes and businesses is possible, warned the Met Office[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
