UK Weather: April Could Be Wettest But Hosepipe Ban Continues (PICTURES)

PA/The Huffington Post UK  |  Posted: 26/04/2012 09:40 Updated: 26/04/2012 09:40

Weather Britain Hosepipe Ban April Showers
Motorists were warned to watch out on Thursday as further heavy rain is expected across England and Wales.

Motorists were warned to watch out on Thursday as further heavy rain is expected across England and Wales.

The wet weather set to continue for the next week, sparking predictions we could be due for the wettest April on record.

The Environment Agency said five flood warnings remained in place in south-west England where some areas saw up to 50mm of rain (2in) yesterday. More than 40 flood alerts were also in place across the rest of the country.

Paul Mott, forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, warned of localised flooding today.
He said: "It's going to be another rainy day, although London and the South East are slightly better off. There'll be one or two showers in the morning but it will be better by the afternoon.

"Otherwise elsewhere across the country it will be mostly unsettled with heavy rain and showers at times.

"There is already quite a lot of surface water on the roads, particularly in the Midlands, Yorkshire and north-east England so there will be lots of spray."

Temperatures are likely to reach a high of 15C in the south east and 14C across the rest of England and Wales, but could drop down to zero in parts of Scotland, he said.

Mr Mott said the rain would continue into the evening.

He added: "It's going to stay unsettled over the next seven days with frequent showers and persistent rain.

"Sunday looks to be a washout with up to an inch of rain falling across England and Wales."

The Met Office also warned of "heavy showers" but said they would quickly blow through due to strong, blustery winds.

Yesterday strong gusts of wind brought down scaffolding and seriously damaged at least four cars on Southsea seafront in Hampshire.

No one was injured when the structure fell at the Royal Beach Hotel.

The Environment Agency has previously warned that the drought gripping swathes of England could increase the risk of flash flooding as rain is less easily absorbed by dry, compacted soils, instead running off and causing localised floods.

And while the rain may be welcome for gardeners and farmers in drought-affected areas, the downpours are not enough to alleviate the drought that stems from two unusually dry winters in a row.

Richard Aylard, from Thames Water, one of seven companies which have brought in hosepipe bans in response to the drought, said "a couple of wet weeks" was not enough to reverse record dry conditions seen in the region in the past two years.

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  • Spring weather May 1st

    A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A member of a team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service looks for hidden obstructions before launching a boat scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Swans swim past signs for riverside walks along the River Severn in Worcester, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: A car drives through flood water in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Cars drive though spray on the M5 motorway on May 1, 2012 near Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood waters gather on land close to Tewkesbury Abbey on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood water overflows from the rive in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding

    TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood water overflows from the river in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A man hole cover is burst open by excess water in Witney, Oxfordshire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Tourists look for a way around the flooding in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A man hole cover is burst open by excess water in Witney, Oxfordshire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Flooding in a playground near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Flooding in a playground near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Flooding near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    People discuss the flooding in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A general view of standing water in fields near Glastonbury, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    A general view of the River Brue, which is two foot above the level of the road and fields either side, as it winds it's way along the Somerset Levels and towards Glastonbury, where St Michael's Tower sits on Glastonbury Tor, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather May 1st

    Swans swim past signs for riverside walks along the River Severn in Worcester, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.

  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Tewkesbury Abbey, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

  • Landrovers make a soggy trip in Essex

  • Collapsed scaffolding on a road in London

  • Life Aquatic in Essex

  • A tree lays waste to a car in Dulwich, south London

  • The Knavesmire and York racecourse is not fit for use

  • Walkies! A man and his dog paddle through a flooded village green in York

  • A lorry drives through Hodge Beck river in North Yorkshire

  • Soccer - Rangers Administration - Ibrox

    Rangers manager Ally McCoist, arrives in heavy rain, to Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow as Rangers administrators warn attempts to rebuild the crisis club have been seriously undermined.

  • Rain continues

    A man holds an umbrella in heavy rain in Dublin city centre.

  • Horse Racing - 2012 Punchestown Festival - thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup Day - Punchestown Racecourse

    Punters arrive in heavy rain for day two of the Punchestown Festival at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas.

  • Heavy rain across the UK

    A van drives through a puddle near Epsom, Surrey, as wet weather continues across the UK.

  • Spring weather Apr 25

    Shoppers use their umbrellas to shield from rain in Strafford upon Avon city centre.

  • Spring weather Apr 25

    Heavy rain on the M20 in Ashford, Kent.

  • Spring weather Apr 25

    Shoppers use their umbrellas to shield from rain in Strafford upon Avon city centre.

  • Spring weather Apr 25

    Drops of rain fall in Ashford, Kent.

  • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 1st wedding anniversary

    File photo dated 04/07/11 ofof the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sheltering from the rain under umbrellas at Dalvay by the Sea, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

  • Spring weather April 30th

    Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.

FOLLOW UK

Motorists were warned to watch out on Thursday as further heavy rain is expected across England and Wales. The wet weather set to continue for the next week, sparking predictions we could be due fo...
Motorists were warned to watch out on Thursday as further heavy rain is expected across England and Wales. The wet weather set to continue for the next week, sparking predictions we could be due fo...
 
 
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Recency  | 
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17:51 on 28/04/2012
will you brtis ever learn
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
clownzozo
Magician, Novelist and an Angry Old Git
13:45 on 29/04/2012
We have, it's our politicians, we were duped into voting for, who appear to be brain dead.