WEEKEND DELUGE UK weather: Heavy rain will hit in HOURS with homes already underwater after rivers burst banks & temps plunged to -6C

BRITS are bracing for a weekend washout with some homes already underwater.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for "heavy" rain on Sunday and Monday.

Homes are under water in Cambridgeshire today
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Homes are under water in Cambridgeshire todayCredit: Geoff Robinson Photography
Two rain warnings have been issued for Sunday
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Two rain warnings have been issued for SundayCredit: MET Office
Cyclists make their way through a very frosty Richmond Park, in London, on Saturday morning
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Cyclists make their way through a very frosty Richmond Park, in London, on Saturday morningCredit: Story Picture Agency
Saturday will get off to a cold start, says the Met Office
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Saturday will get off to a cold start, says the Met OfficeCredit: MET Office

South London, Kent, Canterbury, Dover and Hastings are covered in the alert, which is in place from 3pm on Sunday until 9am Monday.

Exeter, Devon and Plymouth have also had an alert issued from 6am Sunday until 6pm.

And vast swathes of South London and Kent will be covered by the same warning from 3pm on Sunday to 9am on Monday.

For some, the deluge has already begun after the River Great Ouse burst it's banks in Cambridgeshire.

Shocking pictures showed flats underwater - with some desperate residents resorting to boats to get around.

Temperatures plunged to minus 6C overnight leaving much of the country waking up to freezing conditions with "patchy mist and fog in places".

Chilly conditions settled in from the north leaving frost on the ground - with early risers forced to de-ice their cars due to the cold blast.

What to do when the road is flooded

  • If the road is flooded, turn around and find another route. The number one cause of death during flooding is driving through flood water, so the safest advice is turn around, don’t drown.
  • Although the water may seem shallow, just 12 inches (30cm) of moving water can float your car, potentially taking it to deeper water from which you may need rescuing.
  • Flood water also contains hidden hazards which can damage your car, and just an egg-cupful of water sucked into your car’s engine will lead to severe damage.
  • Never drive through flood water. Turn around.

The Met Office has warned "heavy rain may cause some flooding and disruption in places".

It comes as over 200 flood alerts were issued up and down the country.

Forecasters have urged Brits not to travel in the floods - with as little as 30cm able to drown a car.

Parts of Scotland will saw lows of -2C this morning, with Manchester dipping to 1C and London a bitter 2C.

Residents in Aberdeen were being warned to wrap up warm as they woke up to a bitter chill of -1C.

The frost is set to clear throughout Saturday, with highs of 9C on the south coast near Plymouth - but the UK will soon be battered by rain.

Heading into Saturday afternoon, showers will creep in from the west, affecting mainly Wales and southern parts of England.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "Patchy fog and frost will lift to leave many parts dry with sunny spells.

"However, showers will affect western areas, and the south coast of England, and a few will develop elsewhere during the day. 

"[As we head into tonight] most of the showers will die out during the early evening, leaving a largely dry night with clear spells.

"Some fog and frost returning. Rain arriving in the southwest later."

WEEKEND DELUGE

Looking toward Sunday, the frost is expected to completely clear but more showers are predicted with stronger winds.

The weather service added: "Fog and frost clearing to leave most areas with sunny spells and a few showers.

"However, wet and windy weather in the southwest will gradually spread to other southern areas."

It comes as travellers and commuters are warned to expect chaos this weekend.

The M25 Dartford Crossing will shut for a total of seven hours - feared to cause standstill traffic.

The planned closure of the QEII Bridge will take place between 10pm and 5am on Saturday, and 10pm and 5am on Sunday.

National Highways said: “We’re carrying out an extensive programme of repairs and maintenance work over the next several years to keep journeys safe and reliable for road users.“To keep disruption to a minimum, we carry out our work overnight, typically between the hours of 10pm and 6am.”

For anyone planning to travel on the bridge, cars between 4.8 and five metres can find a diversion headed clockwise of the M25.

Flooding around St Ives, in Cambridgeshire, on Saturday morning after the River Great Ouse burst its banks
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Flooding around St Ives, in Cambridgeshire, on Saturday morning after the River Great Ouse burst its banksCredit: Geoff Robinson Photography
The River Great Ouse burst its banks this weekend
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The River Great Ouse burst its banks this weekendCredit: Geoff Robinson Photography
The M25 Dartford Crossing is closed this weekend
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The M25 Dartford Crossing is closed this weekend

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