Met Office issues amber weather warning ahead of rain storm - all 16 places affected

The Met Office has issued a rare amber weather warning ahead of major rain storm set to deluge 16 areas of the UK - with a potential to cause "danger to life".

The forecaster urged Brits to stay safe and avoid travelling by road as up to 60mm worth of torrential rainfall will cause flooding in several areas, affecting communities already recovering from recent deluges. Rivers will also continue to rise after the rain clears, it added. Transport disruption this evening and overnight is to be expected amid the washout.

Slow moving showers and thunderstorms at the start of the day will soon intensify through the afternoon into the late evening, merging into "a large band of heavy rain", the Met Office said.

It added: "Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours. This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears."

Regions and local authorities affected

East Midlands

• Leicester
• Leicestershire
• Northamptonshire
• Rutland

East of England

• Bedford
• Cambridgeshire
• Central Bedfordshire
• Peterborough

London & South East England

• Buckinghamshire
• Milton Keynes
• Oxfordshire

South West England

• Gloucestershire

West Midlands

• Herefordshire
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands Conurbation
• Worcestershire

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