UPDATE: |Met Office issues UK Good Friday warning for flooding and disruption as ‘heavy’ rain to hit News

Downpours could cause major problems for people hoping to get away for the Easter bank holiday weekend

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for parts of south of England as ‘heavy’ rain could cause flooding and disruption on Good Friday.

People looking to get away for the bank holiday weekend could run into “difficult driving conditions” on Friday evening as the yellow warning comes into force from 6pm, the weather agency said.

Forecasters have warned that homes and businesses could see possible flooding, while bus and train services are likely to be affected by longer journey times. Spray and and flooding on the roads could also lead to delays, the Met Office said.

Heavy rain is set to hit the south west of the country early on Friday becoming “heavier and more persistent” throughout the day and overnight into Saturday.

The area covered by the warning, which will be in place from 6pm on Friday until 9am on Saturday includes Exeter, Plymouth and Cornwall.

The Met Office warning states: “Rain developing early Friday becomes heavier and more persistent later on Friday and persists into Saturday before easing from Saturday late morning.”

It added that 20mm to 40mm of rain is likely to build up by Saturday morning, while 50mm to 75mm is likely over higher ground, such as Dartmoor. Conditions will also be “quite windy,” the Met Office said.

Anyone heading off on the roads is urged to plan their journey carefully and check road conditions before they set off.

The Met Office advised: “Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.”

The AA estimated that 19.1 million people in the UK will drive on Good Friday, with 18.5 million hitting the road on Saturday and 18.2 million on each of Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Other areas of the UK are likely to see brighter conditions, according to forecasters. Much of eastern England and Scotland will remain dry, the Met Office said, and it will feel “warm” in areas with sunshine.

Most of the showers are expected to be confined to western areas, the Met Office. South east England will enjoy the highest temperatures of the day of up to 18C.

Throughout the rest of the weekend, Brits are being told to expect “changeable” conditions. The Met Office said further spells of rain are likely across western areas, although some sunnier intervals can also be expected.

Highs of 16C are expected on Saturday in southern England, but temperatures will drop drastically overnight, falling close to zero in some parts of the UK.

Lighter wind with some “fine weather” and a “mix of sunshine and cloud” are forecast on Easter Sunday, with highs of 16C in London, 11C in Edinburgh and 15C in Cardiff, the Met Office said.

On Monday, more “unsettled” weather is expected, with outbreaks of rain and showers focused in the south and west, the weather agency said.