The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for Wales on New Year’s Day, forecasting heavy rain and strong winds across the country. The warnings, which come into effect at 9am on Wednesday, 1 January, signal potential disruption due to severe weather conditions.
Rain Warning
A warning for rain will remain in place until 9pm on Wednesday, affecting much of Wales. The Met Office has warned of “heavy and persistent rainfall” linked to a low-pressure system moving eastward across the UK.
“Twenty to 40mm is expected fairly widely, with 60 to 80mm across hills,” the Met Office stated on its website.
The areas covered by the rain warning include Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, and Wrexham.
Wind Warning
The second warning, for wind, will extend until 6am on Thursday, with gusts of up to 75mph predicted. The Met Office described the conditions as being caused by “a deep area of low pressure expected to cross the UK from the west, bringing a spell of very strong winds.”
“Gusts of 65 to 75mph are likely around coasts and hills, especially in the south and west, with 50 to 60mph gusts likely fairly widely inland,” the statement added.
Unlike the rain warning, the wind warning encompasses the entirety of Wales, raising concerns for widespread impacts.
Residents are advised to take precautions, stay updated with local forecasts, and prepare for potential travel disruption as the adverse weather conditions set in.
