The Environment Agency has warned 104 communities in England and Wales, particularly in north-west England, to be on flood alert, with a month’s rain due to fall in 24 hours, causing disruption in parts of the UK.

The heaviest downpours are likely to fall across Lancashire and North Wales into the afternoon, moving up to the far north of England and the south of Scotland by Friday night. Showers along the English channel coast are expected to move to the southern counties of England in the early afternoon pushing as far north as the Midlands again by the evening.

Between 20mm and 40mm of rain are expected to fall in central and northern areas of England while the worst-hit places could see 60mm of rain, the average monthly fall for July.

While 99 flood alerts, which warn people to be prepared for possible flooding are in place, Darwen is one of five places subject to a flood warning. Residents of Darwen, Lancashire, who were evacuated last month when rivers burst their banks, have been warned to expect similar rainfall on Friday.

Flood warnings have also been issued for the River Spodden at Whitworth, Lancashire and Uttoxeter in Staffordshire as well as in Old Basford and Lowdham- both in Nottinghamshire. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued flood alerts in Tayside as well as Ayrshire and Arran.

Five million homes are deemed to be at risk of flooding with the “immediate concern” this morning being the north Midlands and the Pennines. The Environment Agency has opened incident rooms and has teams out checking on flood defences and clearing any blockages to reduce risks as much as possible.

Related:
Met issues heavy rain forecast in north-east

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