A WEATHER warning for heavy rain in Herefordshires has been upgraded by the Met Office.

It remains at yellow today for western parts of the county, but is being raised to amber over the weekend.

A yellow warning means:

  • Flooding of a few homes and businesses in urban areas is likely
  • Spray and flooding on roads will make for dangerous driving conditions resulting in longer journey times.
  • Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges likely
  • Some short term loss of power and other services is possible

An amber warning means:

  • Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
  • Fast-flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life
  • Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely
  • Spray and flooding will probably lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
  • There is a good chance some communities will be cut off by flooded roads
  • Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses are likely

The Met Office says tonight it will be blustery, particularly over high ground. The minimum temperature will be 8C.

Persistent rain will continue through Saturday and into the evening, with frequent heavy bursts and possibly some thunder. Maximum temperature 15C.

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Elsewhere in Britain, gale-force winds of up to 61mph are battering the South West as Storm Alex moves in from France.

The storm has pushed strong winds and lashing rain into southern England, causing travel chaos and disrupting power lines in the South West and on the Isle of Wight.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said the highest wind speeds of 61mph hit Berry Head in Devon and the Isle of Wight on Friday morning, making power lines “susceptible to damage”.

She said power cuts are more likely in early autumn because trees still have their leaves, which means branches are more likely to fall in high winds and disrupt cables.

Ms Maxey said the wet and windy weather will be moving up from the South West and Wales, towards the North of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland throughout Friday afternoon – though the rain will become lighter.

Amber weather warnings for the heaviest rainfall likely to cause transport disruption are in place for Herefordshire, parts of Wales, parts of the West Midlands and south-west England until 6pm on Sunday.

Gale-force winds brought by Storm Alex will subside by the end of Friday, but yellow weather warnings for rain will remain in place for most of the UK over the weekend.