The heavy rain is set to hit the UK within days.

09:07, Tue, Dec 16, 2025 Updated: 09:10, Tue, Dec 16, 2025

TOPSHOT-BRITAIN-NEW YEAR-WEATHER

UK weather maps turn orange as England, Scotland and Wales 'disappear' under storm (Image: Getty)

A 630-mile wall of rain moving in from the Atlantic will batter the UK within days - all the way from Cornwall to Aberdeen - according to weather forecasts. The rain will hit South-west England and Wales on Thursday morning, before sweeping North-east across the UK to cover the entire country, according to maps by WXCharts. 

By midday on December 18, the majority of England will be covered, with deep red on the weather maps indicating up to 8mm of rain will fall per hour from Manchester down to Cornwall. By 3pm, the weather forecaster predicts that rain will bring heavy storms to the north, as far as Aberdeen, leaving lighter showers over the South of England and Wales.

Precipitation maps at 3pm on December 18

Weather maps at 12pm on December 18 (Image: WXCharts)

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About 4mm of rain will fall over Northumbria and Cumbria and south Scotland, according to WXCharts predictions. Rain will also cover Northern Ireland, although it will be slightly lighter, with about 1.5mm of rain per hour.

The Met Office forecast, which differs from WXCharts, said that weather will remain unsettled on Thursday, with further heavy rain in places.

The rain forecast by WXCharts may be unwelcome news for people in southwest England, which is set for heavy rain on Wednesday too.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in southwest England and Wales on Wednesday, December 17, warning of "possible flooding".

Precipitation maps at 3pm on December 18

Weather maps at 3pm on December 18 (Image: WXCharts)

It predicted that 15-25mm of rain is likely to accumulate across the warning area, but 40-60mm of rain could fall over the high ground of Dartmoor and the hills of south Wales.

Drivers have been warned that spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

By Friday, it is predicted that the weather will turn "bright and breezy" with sunshine and showers, and rain is likely to push eastwards during Saturday.