A 30-hour warning for heavy rain and strong winds has been issued for much of Wales on New Year’s Day and Tuesday. There was a “brief lull” due to wind and rain, but more heavy rain and strong winds are forecast for Monday afternoon and overnight.

Yellow rain warning active from 5pm Monday (1 December) to 9pm Tuesday (2 December) and wind warning active from 8am to 9pm Tuesday (2 December).

The Met Office says low pressure will move inland before a brief ridge of high pressure follows, with subsequent weather fronts moving in from the west.

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The bad weather continues following a wave of rain and wind caused by Storm Gerrit. Natural Resources Wales has a flood warning for the River Rytek at Tenby and nine flood warnings across the country.

The Met Office’s yellow rain warning said: “Following recent wet weather, further rainfall, some heavy, is expected in the afternoon and overnight on Monday. Then, after a brief break on Tuesday, more heavy rain is likely to spread northeast. Parts of southwest and southern England, south Wales and possibly the Midlands will be in focus this afternoon and overnight.

“On Tuesday, the focus of the heaviest rain is less clear but perhaps more likely in parts of Wales, the Midlands, the east of England and Yorkshire. During the warning period, 15-30mm of rain is likely to fall quite widely, with 35-50mm in some locations. The heaviest rain is expected to move across south-west England and south Wales by mid-Tuesday, but could last until the evening in the north-east of the warning area. Strong winds will affect some areas and a separate wind warning has been issued.”




Areas of Wales affected by this warning:

  • Blaenau Gwent
  • bridge
  • Caerphilly
  • Cardiff
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Ceredigion
  • Conwy
  • Denbighshire
  • Flintshire
  • Gwynedd
  • Merthyr Tydfil
  • Monmouthshire
  • Neath Port Talbot
  • Newport
  • Pembrokeshire
  • Pendant
  • Rhonda Keenon Tuff
  • Swansea
  • Torfaen
  • Vale of Glamorgan
  • Wrexham.

The Met Office warned about the wind: “Very windy conditions are likely to develop rapidly across south-west England and south Wales on Tuesday morning, before spreading eastwards across the south and parts from central England. Wind gusts are expected to reach 60 mph in coastal areas. Gusts of up to 70 mph are sometimes less likely. Inland, 40 to 50 mph gusts are likely, but 55 to 60 mph gusts are less likely, although the magnitude of such gusts is uncertain at this time. This windy weather will be accompanied by heavy rain in some places, separate warning, westerly winds will weaken in the afternoon and evening.




Areas covered by the notice:

  • Blaenau Gwent
  • bridge
  • Caerphilly
  • Cardiff
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Ceredigion
  • Merthyr Tydfil
  • Monmouthshire
  • Neath Port Talbot
  • Newport
  • Pembrokeshire
  • Pendant
  • Rhonda Keenon Tuff
  • Swansea
  • Torfaen
  • Vale of Glamorgan.

Looking ahead, the Met Office Wales forecast is for cooler weather later in the week.

The forecast for Wednesday and Friday is: “Busy days ahead with a mix of sun and rain, sometimes heavy. A blustery start, then the wind will ease on Friday. By the end of the week it will slowly cool down.”

The UK forecast for the first half of January suggests a gradual trend towards more stable and slightly cooler conditions, with some freezing nights.

The long-range forecast said: “Some rainfall is still likely initially, especially around the northern and eastern windward coasts, but overall most areas are starting to see longer, more persistent spells develop. Occasional periods of instability are still possible, but tend to be much more regional and rare than recent conditions. As temperatures fall, the likelihood of sleet and snow decreases, especially in the highlands and especially in northern parts of the UK, but not exclusively in any case. In addition to frost and ice overnight, freezing fog is also likely.”