This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The UK has been warned to expect further bad weather as Storm Gareth threatens to cause transport delays and damage to buildings.

Heavy rain hit Wales, southern England, Northern Ireland and western Scotland on Tuesday, and high winds also affected parts of the UK.

Forecasters predicted the strong winds would continue overnight, with Northern Ireland potentially experiencing the worst of it. “There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris [and] there is a slight chance of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs,” the Met Office said as it issued yellow weather warnings.

A similar warning covered Wales, almost all of England and western Scotland, with forecasters saying some short-term loss of power and other services was possible. The warning was due to expire at 3pm on Wednesday, with the Northern Ireland warning running until midday.

Thomastown in Northern Ireland had the heaviest rainfall on Tuesday, with 17.2mm (0.6 in) by the evening.

Early in the day, Highways England said officers were dealing with severe flooding on the northbound slip road to Charnock Richard services, off the M6 in Lancashire, and a lane was closed southbound near junction 33 at Hampson Green because of flooding.

The Environment Agency said staff had been working through the night in Cumbria and Lancashire to monitor rain and river levels and to remove debris.

“Rain is falling on already wet catchments, therefore it’s important that people do remain vigilant, be prepared and know your risk,” it said.

Strong winds were expected to follow the rain, raising the risk of damage to buildings, power cuts and travel problems.

Forecasters said Tuesday evening would be “very windy, with severe gales in the north. Heavy and squally showers across northern and central parts with risk of hail of thunder. Drier in the south with clear spells and a few blustery showers.”

On Wednesday the weather was likely to be “cold and very windy with sunshine and showers, heavy in places with snow over northern hills. Showers will steadily ease but rain will reach the west later.”

Storm Gareth, which has been caused by a deep area of low pressure, was named by Met Éireann, the Irish weather service, and is the third named storm this year after Erik in February and Freya this month.

Yellow weather warnings are of moderate severity, with amber and red being worse.