A WARNING of heavy rain across the whole of Somerset on the day after Boxing Day has been issued by the UK Met Office.

The warning comes into force at midnight on Boxing Day and lasts until 3 pm on Wednesday (December 27).

The Met Office said heavy rain would bring the potential for disruption to travel and a risk of flooding and interruption to power supplies.

A Met Office map of its yellow rain warning for December 27.
A Met Office map of its yellow rain warning for December 27. (Met Office)

Some homes and businesses were likely to be flooded and bus and train services affected, while spray and flooding would make driving more difficult, meaning journey times could take longer.

Yellow alerts are issued to warn people that severe weather is possible and they should plan ahead and think about possible travel delays, or disruption to day to day activities.

The Met Office monitors developing weather situations and people should keep an eye on the latest forecast and be aware that the weather may change or worsen, leading to disruption to plans in the next few days.

The Environment Agency at the same time has warned flooding was possible on Exmoor and residents should prepare themselves.

It said Exmoor’s river levels remained high on Christmas Day after recent rainfall.

A spokesperson said: “There has been persistent rainfall in the Exmoor rivers area. This has meant that the rivers are now rising.

“There will be flooding to low lying land and roads close to the river.

“We expect the river to remain high throughout Christmas Day, though no flooding to properties is forecast and warnings are not expected to be issued.

“Take care near the areas of concern and monitor local weather conditions.”

The spokesperson said the agency was constantly monitoring river levels and would give an update on Boxing Day, or earlier if the situation changed.

The alert area covers the upper River Exe from Exford to Exebridge, the Rivers Barle, Lyn, Mole, and Bray and their tributaries, coastal streams from Combe Martin to Lynton, and the middle and lower parts of the Exe.

There were no alerts issued for the River Tone in the Wellington area nor for communities in the Culm Valley and Blackdown Hills.