WEATHER warnings have been issued for severe downpours as a 900 mile-wide tropical storm brings 22ft waves, three inches' rain and 50mph gales across the country.
Storm Sebastien will buffet the South on Tuesday after spinning north from the Azores, with waves up to 22ft on South-West coasts.
TEMPERATURES PLUMMET
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning across much of southern and western England until Thursday – while high tides also increase the risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency said: “Rain could lead to flooding in parts of the South, south Wales, East and North-East. Coastal flooding is possible on Wednesday on the south coast of Wales.
“Land, roads and properties could flood and travel disruption is possible.”
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “Allow more time for wet weather trips, slow down and increase stopping distances.”
It's floods then freeze this week, with -5C possible by Saturday night and snow risks in the North
The Met Office also forecasts cold polar air arriving from Friday which could remain for much of the next two weeks – with snow affecting the North and possible the South.
Bitterly cold temperatures of -5C are set to appear by Saturday in the North.
A Met Office forecaster said: “The beginning of December looks cold for many, with potential for wintry showers in the North, which may spread to higher ground in the South.”
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “It's floods then freeze this week, with -5C possible by Saturday night and snow risks in the North.”
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Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: “Remnants of Tropical Storm Sebastien mean it will be windy on Tuesday into Wednesday with gales in the South and South-West, and high spring tides.
“It's not a pretty picture, with warnings for rain for the next few days after some places had three times their normal rain in the first half of the month.
“Colder air arrives at the end of the week, perhaps generally hanging on for the first half of December.”
The UK's weather forecast for the next five days is cold and cloudy for most areas, along with rain.
Are you winter weather ready?
TWO-thirds of British people have been caught out by severe weather, according to the latest research from the Met Office.
This is despite regularly checking the weather forecast.
A huge 74 per cent of those surveyed don’t think they are ready for winter.
And 20 per cent admit that they only start winter preparations, such as checking their boiler and pipes and stocking up their freezer, in December.
Yet the most cited disruption from bad weather was boilers breaking down and pipes bursting, the survey found.
Although more than a quarter (27 per cent) check the weather up to ten times a week, the same small percentage spend time preparing their winter wardrobe (27 per cent) and getting their house ready (22 per cent) for winter.
Will Lang, head of civil contingencies at the Met Office, said: “Changeable weather is a fact of life throughout the winter months as the recent heavy rainfall and flooding has shown us.
"Taking a small amount of time to prepare now can make a big difference in keeping family, friends and neighbours, as well as property and businesses safe throughout the months ahead.”
- Prepare a winter kit for your car, such as ice scraper, de-icer, torch, in-car phone charger, warm clothes and blankets
- Vehicle checks – before setting off, make sure your vehicle has adequate oil and coolant, jack, wheel brace, spare wheel, warning lights and spare keys
- Property checks – check roof for loose slates or tiles, clear guttering
- Keep your home warm – heat your home to at least 18C, to keep you warm and healthy
- Check on others – check on older neighbours and relatives during severe weather, ensuring they have plenty of food and medicine, so they don’t have to go out in really bad weather
Many other areas will be cloudy, with showery rain in places – and torrential rain in parts of the south and southwest.
But, these showers will "turn heavy and persistent in parts of southwest Britain," the Met Office said.
"Northwestern areas are likely to be brightest again."
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