UK weather: Met Office warns of heavy rain to drench Britain today before chilly night with temperatures plunging to 1C

THE Met Office warns heavy rain will drench Britain today before a chilly night with temperatures plunging to 1C.

Today will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle across England and Wales.

Slippery conditions on the road in St Albans last week
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Slippery conditions on the road in St Albans last weekCredit: Story Picture Agency
A wave crashes into Aberystwyth harbour
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A wave crashes into Aberystwyth harbourCredit: Alamy

The rain will be heavy at times in the morning, before slowly turning lighter in the afternoon.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland it will also be cloudy at first - but there will be bright spells later.

The light rain and drizzle will persist across the Midlands and the north tonight.

It will be a cold, clear night in the north with a patchy frost settling and a possible low of 1C.

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More rain, cloud and drizzle is expected in the south east tomorrow, forecasters said.

Elsewhere will be largely dry with some sunny spells throughout the day.

A brisk northerly wind will chill the east coast from Essex to Aberdeen.

Western areas will be largely dry over the coming days, with a mix of sunshine and showers in the east.

The sunshine will be pleasant - although there could be the odd chilly breeze in coastal areas.

Environment Agency experts have issued 48 amber flood alerts across England.

But the agency said the general flood risk this week is actually very low.

This week's Met Office forecast

Today

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle across England and Wales.

Rain will be heavy at times in the morning, but gradually turn lighter through the afternoon.

Cloudy at first in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but brighter spells developing later.

Tonight

Light rain and drizzle continuing across parts of central and eastern England tonight, but mostly dry elsewhere.

A cold night in the north under clear spells and a patchy frost.

Tuesday

Cloudy in the southeast with outbreaks of rain and drizzle.

Largely dry elsewhere with increasing sunny spells through the day.

Chilly on the east coasts with a brisk northerly wind.

Wednesday to Friday

Western areas largely dry over the coming days with sunny spells.

Sunshine and showers in eastern areas.

Pleasant in the sunshine, chilly around coastal areas at times with brisk winds.