Wales Rain Warning: Met Office Issues 8-Hour Alert

Heavy Rain and Flood Risk: Yellow Warning Issued for South Wales

A yellow rain warning is in effect for much of south Wales, as a band of heavy rainfall moves across the region following a week of consistently unsettled weather. Residents are urged to prepare for potential disruption due to flooding and challenging transport conditions.

The Met Office issued the warning on January 22, 2026, forecasting rainfall beginning at 8:00 AM Thursday. This alert comes after days of persistent rain and showers have saturated the ground, increasing the risk of localized flooding.

According to the Met Office, up to 20mm of rain could fall within a few hours. This,combined with already saturated ground,is expected to cause significant issues. “Frequent showers and some longer spells of rain,heavy at times,are likely during Thursday,” reads the official forecast. “Five to 15mm is likely to fall widely in a few hours, with up to 20mm in a few places. Given saturated ground this may lead to some flooding and transport disruption.”

The warning covers 13 areas within south Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, and the Vale of Glamorgan. Residents in these areas should anticipate spray and flooding on roads, possibly leading to challenging driving conditions. There is also a possibility that some communities could become temporarily isolated due to floodwaters.

Did you know? – Yellow warnings are issued when weather could disrupt daily routines and require caution. They are the least severe of the Met Office’s warning system, but still demand preparedness.

While south Wales and the southeast of England are bracing for wet conditions,eastern Scotland faces a more severe threat. A persistent band of rainfall is forecast to impact the region overnight, with some areas potentially receiving over 100mm of rain.

Met Office chief forecaster Dan Harris emphasized the severity of the situation in Scotland, stating, “Rain will turn increasingly persistent and heavy late on Wednesday and through much of Thursday for parts of Scotland, which has resulted in amber and yellow warnings for rain being issued.” he further explained that within the amber warning zone, high ground exposed to strong southeasterly winds could see rainfall exceeding 100mm, while 50-80mm is probable across the broader yellow warning area. “This is expected to lead to flooding in some places with some rivers taking longer to respond to the rainfall and could lead to ongoing impacts through Thursday.”

Pro tip – If you must travel during heavy rain, reduce your speed, increase your stopping distance, and use headlights to improve visibility. Avoid driving through standing water.

The heaviest rainfall in Wales is expected to clear northeastwards by late afternoon on Thursday. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and exercise caution during the period of the warning.

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Why: A band of heavy rainfall, following a week of unsettled weather, is causing a heightened risk of flooding and disruption.Eastern Scotland faces an even more severe threat with potentially over 100mm of rain.
Who: Residents in 13 areas of south Wales (Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, and the Vale of Glamorgan) and eastern Scotland are affected.
What: The Met Office issued a yellow rain warning for south Wales,beginning January 22,2026,at 8:00 AM,forecasting 5-20mm of rain. Scotland faces both yellow and amber warnings with potential rainfall exceeding 100mm in some areas.
How did it end?: The heaviest rainfall in Wales is expected to clear northeastwards by late afternoon on Thursday. The situation in Scotland is