The Met Office has issued a weather warning lasting 54 hours as the nation prepares for heavy and persistent rainfall.

The yellow alert, effective from 6 pm tomorrow until the end of Friday, encompasses regions in central and eastern Scotland. The Met Office forecasts that what starts as intermittent rain on Wednesday will escalate into continuous and intense showers over elevated areas later in the day, extending into Thursday and possibly Friday. This could result in localized flooding.

Anticipated rainfall amounts range from 30mm to 60mm across a wide area, with the potential for up to 120mm in exposed higher elevations subject to strong southeasterly winds. The impact could include flooding of residences and commercial premises, disruptions to bus and train services, and longer travel durations due to water spray and flooding on roadways. Residents in the affected zones are advised to plan their journeys ahead of time and prepare for potential power outages by assembling torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack, and other essential supplies.

The current rain warning from the Met Office is the sole advisory in effect for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Concurrently, a yellow wind warning remains active across a significant portion of South West England and Wales until 4 pm today.

The Met Office’s Wednesday forecast states: “A day of unsettled weather with rain bands shifting northward. Intermittent sunny intervals may emerge between the rain bands. Conditions will remain blustery, with temperatures hovering around or slightly above average.”

Looking ahead to Thursday through Saturday, the Met Office predicts continued unsettled conditions with additional rainfall or showers across much of the UK. Scotland is expected to experience prolonged rain, with some snow likely on higher terrain. Winds are anticipated to persist, while temperatures will stay close to seasonal averages.