Looming risk from Storm Babet and torrential rain has led to a flood warning from the Met Office All these 20 FloodSax sandless sandbags came from this one easy to carry box FloodSax sandless sandbags are tough enough to protect homes and businesses from torrential floodwater

Everything you need to know about Storm Babet and where it will hit the UK hardest

The Met Office has issued a rare four day weather warning this week for a storm followed by wind and rain so best be prepared for the risk of flooding.

The yellow warning starts on Wednesday and goes right through to Saturday with all areas at risk of torrential rain at some point during the week apart from the south. Scotland is expected to be hardest hit on Thursday with rain then staying over the country for three days.

The Met Office is warning that torrential rain will fall on already sodden ground leading to flooding.

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According to the Met Office heavy rain will move into the west of the UK on Tuesday (Oct 17) evening as Storm Babet brings increasingly wet and windy weather. The rain will spread more widely across the UK on Wednesday bringing heavy downpours to most parts through the day.

As the rain moves northwards it will stall across central and eastern parts of Scotland where the rain will become heavy and persistent from Thursday through to Saturday. There is a severe weather for rain for this area where up to 150 to 200 mm of rain could accumulate in some areas of higher ground.  

Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates said: “Storm Babet will bring impactful rain to many parts of the UK but especially parts of eastern Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England later this week. Heavy and persistent rain will fall onto already saturated ground bringing a risk of flooding. It is important to stay up to date with warnings from your local flood warning agency as well as the local authorities.

“As well as heavy rain, Storm Babet will bring some very strong winds and large waves near some eastern coasts too. Gusts in excess of 60mph are possible in eastern and northern Scotland from Thursday. It is likely Met Office warnings will be updated through the week.”

David Morgan, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “Impacts from surface water and rivers are likely and with catchments saturated from recent heavy rain and flooding we are urging people to be prepared for potential flooding. There is also concern that surface water flooding may be exacerbated by debris blocking drainage and culverts as a result of the high winds.”

Organisations that now have FloodSax include facilities management companies, utility companies, local councils (to protect their own properties such as libraries and also to give to local ratepayers at risk of flooding), hospitals, health centres, supermarkets, schools, universities, care homes, nurseries, sports centres, London Underground, railways, drainage companies, water companies, waste recycling plants, sewage works, petro chemical industry, high profile sporting events, airports, fire services, car parks, stadiums, stately homes, storage units, highways, the plumbing trade, charities, flood action groups, countless businesses and thousands of homes.