South-west and north-west of England, Wales and Northern Ireland likely to be worst hit

This article is more than 6 months old

This article is more than 6 months old

Heavy downpours are expected to cause further flooding to homes and businesses over the weekend, as the latest storm to hit the UK takes hold.

Yellow weather warnings are in place for Storm Jorge on Friday, with the south-west and north-west of England, Wales and Northern Ireland expected to experience the worst of the deluge.

The Met Office has warned that public transport is likely to be disrupted, while some buildings – including those that have already been hit by February’s extreme weather – are expected to flood.

In Wales, where many homes and businesses were devastated in the aftermath of Storm Dennis, the forecaster warned that fast-flowing or deep flood water could cause “a danger to life” and some communities could be cut off by swamped roads.

“During the height of that storm, it may not be possible to continue all those operations. It may be a case of suspending them for a period and resuming them at first light on Sunday morning when conditions improve”. He urged people to check in on vulnerable neighbours.

While rain warnings remain in place and spread to the east on Saturday, strong winds expected over the weekend could also cause delays at airports, train stations, ferry ports and on Britain’s roads.

The Met Office meteorologist Luke Miall said the UK should be braced for snow in some areas on Friday. “[Initially in] Wales over the hills then for northern England and also parts of Scotland we could see some fairly heavy snow over the higher ground,” he said

He added that further heavy rain in places where weather warnings were in place was likely to cause “tricky conditions” for commuters on Friday evening.

Flood warnings will remain in place throughout Friday night, with the weekend staying unsettled. Continued downpours forced people in east Yorkshire to evacuate their homes earlier this week after the River Aire flooded.

In Ireland, defence forces were on standby to help flooded areas that are bracing for fresh torrents.

Record rainfall for February – in some places three times the monthly average – has flooded communities in the Midlands and west, especially in the Shannon catchment area, cutting several roads and rail links. Rivers remain dangerously swollen.

The National Emergency Coordination Group was due to meet on Friday in advance of Storm Jorge, which is due to arrive on Saturday. Keith Leonard, the chair of the group, told RTE it may need to suspend flood relief operations until winds and rain ease.

An emergency evacuation took place in Ironbridge, in Shropshire, after the River Severn burst its banks.

Storm Jorge is the third to hit the country this month, coming less than a fortnight after Storm Dennis caused widespread damage and killed five people.

In Worcestershire, the body of Yvonne Booth, 55, was found after she was swept away by flood water.

Meanwhile, the trail of destruction left behind by Storm Ciara earlier in February has been projected to cost up to £200m in insurance claims. Communities in the north of England, including in Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Lancashire and West Yorkshire, suffered the brunt of flood damage.

The government has come under increasing scrutiny for its reaction to the floods. On Thursday, the environment secretary, George Eustice, was criticised for not meeting residents in Ironbridge who had been evacuated from their homes.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, was accused of hampering recovery efforts by refusing to call a Cobra meeting, while Jeremy Corbyn castigated him for not visiting flood-hit communities.