UK weather: Met Office issues ‘danger to life’ flood warning as person killed in mudslide & heavy rain batters UK

A PERSON was last night killed in a mudslide as “heavy” rain and floods batter Britain.   

The Met Office has issued an amber rain warning after “danger to life” floods hit the nation.

Stephen Huntley/HVC

A Land Rover puts its snorkel to good use in Essex yesterday[/caption]

SWNS

Punters get a soaking on the River Cam[/caption]

PA

A classic car makes a splash in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire[/caption]

PA

Unlovely conditions on the M5 northbound[/caption]

One person died in a mudslide at around 1.15pm yesterday in Carlton-in-Cleveland on the edge of the North York Moors.

Cops have asked the public to avoid the area, which has been cordoned off.

The amber rain warning will be in force for north Wales, north west England, West Yorkshire and Derbyshire until noon.

Spray and flooding will probably lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

Forecasters said fast-flowing or deep floodwater is likely, posing a “danger to life”.

There is a good chance some communities will be cut off by flooded roads.

Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are also likely, forecasters said.

And there will likely be power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.

Around 70-90mm of rain could fall on high ground in northwest England.

But a whopping 100-150mm of rain could drench the mountains of north Wales.

A severe “danger to life” flood warning has been issued for the River Roe and River Ive in Cumbria.

Locals are urged to take action before the rivers burst their banks – swamping farms and houses.

The Environment Agency has issued 20 red flood warnings and 121 amber flood alerts across England.

Yellow rain warnings are in place for most of northern England and Scotland, as well as County Antrim in Northern Ireland.

Met Office expert Neil Armstrong said: “A band of prolonged and heavy rain will move north and west across the UK today.

“Areas exposed to the strengthening northerly winds are most likely to see the highest rainfall amounts.

“There is a chance of some areas, particularly over higher ground in North Wales, seeing more than 150mm.

“Areas over higher ground in the amber warning areas could see more than one month’s worth of rain.”