Brits drenched as rain smothers UK in wet blanket and Met Office warns of ‘danger to life’ flooding today – The Sun

BRITS are battling torrential rain and floods – causing chaos to transport, homes and summer activities.

Homes have been flooded and roads are impassable as autumnal gales and heavy rain have hit early, causing disarray across the UK.

Families who have opted for a British "staycation" are battling the miserable weather, which is set to stay for the weekend.

Fire crews have been dealing with several flooding incidents involving homes in Marford and Acton near Wrexham in North Wales this morning.

Wynnstay Avenue in Wrexham was pictured covered in a blanket of rainwater – as alerts for flooding have been issued across the UK.

Main roads across the country are swamped by floodwater as the 'yellow' weather have brought bands of heavy showers.

Liverpool Road in Manchester is just one of the roads sealed off due to extreme flooding – making it impossible for motorists to pass through.

Flooding was also causing traffic delays on the A1 near Darlington and Northumberland this morning.

Ferry services have also been disrupted by high winds.

The majority of Scotland is on flood alert as heavy rain lashes are expected to bring up to 60mm of rainfall.

Commuters between Edinburgh and Glasgow were left stuck on trains for several hours on Thursday as firefighters were forced to clear two feet of water from a tunnel, but the line has now reopened.

Coastal routes are being worst affected by the relentless gales.

More than 100 homes have been blacked out by a power cut near Woodbridge, Suffolk, and 268 properties were without electricity near Ludlow, Shropshire this morning.

Caravan users, motorcyclists and lorry drivers have been told by transport officials to only drive if absolutely necessary due to the risk the winds pose to their vehicles.

The gales were so extreme that three-day St Annes International Kite Festival has been cancelled.

AUTUMN WEATHER

The unseasonal wet weather has even caused festival cancellations this week – leaving many people angry and stranded.

Boardmasters Festival, which was scheduled to start this week, was cancelled due to weather warnings with just 12 hours' notice.

The Cornwall-based music festival was called off after the Met Office issued severe weather warnings, meaning festival-goers who had paid hundreds for tickets were left stranded in Newquay.

Around 50,000 revellers were set to attend the five-day event to see headliners the Wu-Tang Clan, Florence + The Machine, and Foals.

Houghton Festival in Norfolk was also cancelled this week due to the bad weather predictions.

Residents near Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, were forced to evacuate their homes last week following fears that the dam would burst as the rain buckets down.

Locals were warned they would have 70 seconds to escape if the dam wall began leaking with the overflow of rainwater.

The three-day hammering threatens to be the worst since Storm Hannah struck in April – with late summer about to feel like autumn.

Leading bookmaker Coral has announced 4-5 odds cut from 6-4 – to be the wettest August since records began as the Met Office continues to warn of heavy rain.

Coral's Harry Aitkenhead said: "We've had a soaking wet start to August and the forecasts are showing no let-up over the next week or so.

"We are on course for a record-breakingly wet month and we now make this August odds on to be the wettest ever."

Met Office has issued two 'yellow' weather warnings across the UK today, meaning wind and torrential rain is expected to come in full force.

29 flood alerts have also been put in place across the weekend.

Neil Armstrong, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "This low-pressure system will bring challenging conditions, including unseasonably strong winds and heavy rain, from the west during Friday and Saturday.

"Summer storms – compared with those in autumn and winter – always have the potential to create additional impacts because more people are likely to be outdoors, especially by the coast.

"Additionally, with trees in full leaf they are more vulnerable to being brought down by strong winds."

The miserable weather is also bringing unwanted insects into UK homes – including millions of spiders.

The eight-legged insects are finding respite from the wet weather inside people's houses earlier than expected.

With the gales, heavy rain and plunging temperatures across the country, spiders are migrating into homes, believing that it's already autumn.

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