60mph Gales to Batter Britain

TORRENTIAL rain driven by 60mph winds is set to wreak havoc across Britain this weekend.

Weather experts warned last night a combination of severe gales and massive downpours would bring flash flooding and travel chaos.

The worst spell is expected on Sunday lunch- time with up to two inches of rain – the monthly average – falling by the afternoon. The Environ- ment Agency said it was poised to issue “severe flood” warnings in the South, indicating “danger to life”.

Forecaster Helen Chivers said although southern regions would be battered first, the North would bear the brunt later. Thunderstorms and hail were also on the cards.

A month’s rain in just a few hours is likely to confirm this as the wettest April in 250 years, despite the UK officially being in the grip of a drought. Miss Chivers said: “Southern parts of Britain are looking at some quite torrential downpours, ­thunder- storms, hail and very strong gusts on Sunday.”

Up to two inches of rain and winds of 50 to 60mph is possible. “This is quite unseasonable and we are expecting it will stay unsettled into next week, worse in the North,” added Miss Chivers, of the Met Office.

“We are looking at quite enough rain to generate surface water flooding. This is usual, when the rain comes down so hard it has nowhere to go.”

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We can’t rule out issuing severe flood warnings for Sunday. At this stage it is difficult to ­predict exactly what will happen, but we are expecting surface water flooding.

“We will keep our website ­updated and there is also a contact number on it for people to call if they are concerned.”