After facing severe cold weather in the past few weeks, Brits have to prepare for another round of flooding as the Environment Agency has issued 20 flood warnings as pockets of mild, dry weather in the run-up to Christmas is expected to be replaced by wet, uncertain weather.

The Environment Agency has placed five areas under flood warnings - meaning that some flooding is expected. The Met Office has issued heavy rain alert across England in the run-up to Christmas, as Britain prepares to face unsettling conditions that could last up to 70 days.

There are three such flood warnings in place in the South West - including the Somerset Levels, and two for the Anglian region. More than 20 flood alerts have also been issued across the UK, which implies that Brits must be prepared for the risk of flooding.

John Lee, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said, “It is going to be quite unsettled, wet and windy across the UK for the next few days. We’re looking at 70 days ahead and in that time it is looking unsettled with a succession of Atlantic systems coming to the UK. Does that mean 70 days of rain? No, but it is going to be mild and unsettled until Christmas.”

According to John Lee, the east coast of England could expect gusty winds too, before the weather system starts clearing from Cornwall and Devon on Friday.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said, ”There’ll be long spells of heavy rain over the next few days, accompanied by strong to gale force winds. There’ll be an increasing risk of local flooding as the week goes on, particularly across south-west England.

Joanna Robinson forecasts that up to 50mm of rain is expected in the next 48 hours, with a brief drier and brighter spell on Friday, before more heavy rain prevails over the weekend. ”Despite the unsettled conditions it will be on the mild side for many places.”, she said.