UK households urged to stock up on batteries and torches on Saturday

UK households are being urged to prepare for power cuts, flooding and widespread disruption this weekend, after the Met Office issued a series of weather warnings for heavy rain accompanied with "danger to life" alerts.

People living in flood-prone areas are advised to prepare a flood plan and keep an emergency kit ready, while those concerned about power cuts are being encouraged to stock up on torches, batteries, mobile phone chargers and other essentials. There is also a slight chance of power cuts and a loss of other services to homes and businesses. The Met Office has urged households to take simple precautionary measures ahead of the storm.

It said: "People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance.

"It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items. Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly and keep up to date with the latest forecast in your area."

A yellow weather warning will be in place from 9am on Saturday until 6am on Sunday, covering large parts of England, Wales and Scotland.

The areas expected to be most affected are North West and North East England, Yorkshire and Humber, Wales, Central, Tayside and Fife, Strathclyde, and Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and Borders.

Forecasters warn that between 20mm and 40mm of rainfall is likely across much of the country, with some areas facing as much as 100mm in just 24 hours.

The Met Office has warned the sheer volume of water, combined with increasingly strong gusts of wind and the possibility of thunder, could pose a "danger to life" in certain locations.

Persistent rain will move northeastwards through Saturday, intensifying later in the day before easing by the early hours of Sunday.

The storm is expected to clear Wales first before conditions improve in northern England and Scotland, although strong winds and scattered showers are likely to linger into Sunday morning.

Officials have warned that the storm could trigger flooding of homes and businesses, road closures and hazardous driving conditions, along with delays or cancellations to bus and train services.