LONDON 

A period of heavy rain is set to bring life-threatening conditions to parts of the UK, with the Met Office issuing an amber warning for south and mid-Wales due to the risk of fast-flowing and deep floodwaters on Sunday.

The torrential downpour is being caused by a large area of low pressure moving in from the Atlantic, and forecasters say the intense rainfall could lead to significant flooding and disruption overnight into Monday.

The warning highlights the risk of severe flooding, with fast-flowing water expected to inundate roads, properties, and communities.

The downpour is expected to cause possible delays and cancelations to train and bus services, while some areas may experience road closures and be cut off by floodwaters.

The Met Office also notes that “homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to buildings.”

The Environment Agency has urged people to exercise caution in the face of the worsening weather conditions, warning drivers not to attempt to drive through floodwater.

“It is often deeper than it looks, and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car,” said Sarah Cook, the agency’s flood duty manager. She also reminded people to sign up for free flood warnings to stay informed as conditions worsen.

In addition to the amber warning, the Met Office has issued a series of less severe yellow warnings for wind and rain across other parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland, Scotland, northern England, south-west England, and the West Midlands.

The Environment Agency has also warned of possible river flooding and surface water flooding in the south-west of England and Cumbria, where localized flooding could affect urban areas.