Heavy rainfall could pose a life-threatening danger and disrupt travel with a flood warning issued for parts of Scotland this Thursday.
This alert follows the death of an individual in a mudslide on Wednesday, and the Met Office has indicated that persistent showers will continue to affect parts of the UK, with yellow and amber rain warnings still effective today.
Currently, 23 flood warnings are active, including one in Scotland. Rail service Avanti West Coast alerted commuters around 6:30 am that trains between Preston and Glasgow/Edinburgh might be canceled due to significant flooding on the tracks between Carlisle and Lockerbie.
The company stated on X: “All routes north of Preston are currently blocked in both directions.”
Simon Partridge, a Met Office forecaster, noted that there’s still “quite a long way to go” before the rain stops, with the wet weather expected to persist in the area until Thursday evening.
A yellow weather warning remains in effect for southern and eastern Scotland until 6 pm on Thursday.
The Met Office has cautioned that fast-flowing or deep floodwater, which could be life-threatening, is likely.
The heavy rain may also lead to delays and cancellations of public transport, challenging driving conditions, and potential power outages, according to the forecaster.
On navigating safely in wet conditions, Mr. Partridge advised: “Even if it doesn’t seem too severe when you leave home, the weather can worsen significantly once you’re out, so it’s best to plan your journeys and avoid going out if it’s not necessary.
“Also, keep up with local warnings from the Environment Agency, which are as crucial as ours.”
He also mentioned that the weather forecast for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend remains “uncertain” but seems to be “improving.”
On Wednesday, North Yorkshire Police reported a fatality following a mudslide in Carlton-in-Cleveland at approximately 1:15 pm.
In a statement, the police confirmed: “One individual has tragically lost their life due to the incident.
“Our thoughts are with their family and friends at this tough time.”
The Met Office reported that the region had experienced nearly a month’s rainfall in just one day, with 41.6mm recorded over the last 24 hours in Loftus, a town located 20 miles away.
Carlisle in Cumbria bore the brunt of the downpour, receiving 65.6mm of rain in the previous 24 hours.
Cumbria Police reported several homes were impacted in the Stockdalewath area, with one residence evacuated.
Chief Superintendent Mick Bird announced the establishment of a multi-agency coordination group overnight to address the localized flooding.
“Emergency services have been active throughout the night responding to calls due to the ongoing rainfall, leading to flooding in certain areas of the county,” he stated.
“The flooding is relatively minor, and the public should be reassured that today’s weather forecast looks much more favorable.
“We do anticipate some travel disruptions within Cumbria due to some flooding in parts of the county.”
