After yesterday's break from the wet and windy weather, it is back to how we were again today as the next Atlantic weather system moves in across Britain and Ireland. The good news however is that this system is moving eastwards fairly quickly, so whilst it will being a spell of heavy rain for many areas, it won't last much longer than a few hours in any one place. Nonetheless, we have a Severe Weather Warning out covering the next few days.

The rain is already across Ireland and coming into southwest England and Wales this morning, and really is quite heavy too, which won't help parts of Ireland where flooding occurred in recent days. Meanwhile, much of northern and eastern Britain is starting off dry with some sunny spells around, but this won't last as cloud ahead of that rain streams in from the west. By lunchtime, many western areas will be wet and windy, and by this evening the rain will have spread to northern and eastern areas with clearer conditions following into the west. It will be mild everywhere, but with strong to gale force winds picking up again, it won't feel very pleasant out there.

Tonight sees the rain clearing the north and east, and then a mixture of clear spells and blustery showers will affect most areas, with south-westerly winds really picking up in the west as severe gales develop across Ireland. These will bring outbreaks of squally and heavy rain in across Ireland by tomorrow morning, and this area of rain and severe gales then looks set to move across into northwest England, Wales and Scotland with hail and thunder likely as well as winds gusting up to 70mph in places.

More heavy rain looks like it will sweep across southern Britain on Monday, with the showers continuing in the north, before yet more rain and gales arrive on Tuesday in most areas. Remaining very unsettled then, and later next week there are signs of conditions turning somewhat colder, and this could well bring wintry showers to the north...

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The shocking pictures and reports coming out of Cumbria this morning show the devastating effects of yesterday's severe rainfall event in northwest England, and unconfirmed figures now suggest that around 314mm (12.5 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in Seathwaite - which if confirmed would be a new record for the British Isles.

The flooding that has occurred really is on an extraordinary scale with bridges washed away, hundreds of properties flooded and utility services disrupted. With much of the rain that fell still to filter through the river systems, further extensive flooding is expected today. Flooding has also affected parts of southwest Scotland and Wales, and there are flood warnings out for many areas. If you are worried about the flood risk for your location, please call the Environment Agency on 0845 988 1188 where they will be able to assist.

The rain has finally moved away from the northwest and is now clearing southeast England, and for many areas it is a drier and brighter day with some sunny spells. However, showers are affecting the north and west, and some of these are likely to be heavy at times.

The worrying news is that more rain is on the way for tomorrow as the next Atlantic weather system moves in. After a dry and clear evening with fog patches developing, wind and rain will arrive in the southwest of Britain and Ireland later tonight. This rain and coastal gales will then spread further north and east during tomorrow, with further heavy falls for western areas. Another 50mm (2 inches) of rain is likely again across the flood stricken areas of the northwest before the rain moves away by Saturday evening and this will not help matters at all.

Looking further ahead, and there is no sign of a let up from the relentless wind and rain with Atlantic weather systems continuing to batter Britain and Ireland, and thus the flooding worries look like continuing for some time yet.

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Added : Thu 19 November : 23:23 BST

Our worst fears have been realised today across northwest England with relentless rainfall bringing severe and widespread flooding, and unfortunately the flooding situation is going to get worse over the next 24 hours.

Early indications are that today has been the wettest day EVER recorded in Britain and Ireland with well over 250mm falling in some spots.

More heavy rain is set to fall overnight before it finally moves away by tomorrow morning. However, the huge volume of water will then have to feed through the river systems and thus the flood risk will remain for a long time to come. If you are worried, please refer to the Environment Agency's website (or SEPA if you are in Scotland) - the links can be found in our severe weather warning.

A drier day is in store for tomorrow across the northwest, but we are afraid to report that further heavy rain is in store in the coming days and this will add to the problems.

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