Met Office forecast Leeds: Deep flooding 'likely' as extreme weather warning for rain issued

A flood alert was issued on Saturday as melted snow raised river levels - and more rain is on the way.

A two-day amber warning has been issued across Leeds from 6am on Tuesday to 11.59pm on Wednesday.

Torrential downpours are set to batter the city, forecasters say, with flash flooding and deep floodwater expected.

The Met Office issues three levels of warnings - yellow, amber and red.

An amber warning means there is an increased likelihood of severe weather, which can cause travel delays, road closures and power cuts.

What to expect in Leeds, according to the Met Office:

- Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings

- Fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life

- Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely

- Spray and flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures

- A good chance some communities cut off by flooded roads

- Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses likely

The weather forecast for Leeds in full:

Light, patchy showers are forecast on Monday, turning drier and brighter into the afternoon.

It will become cloudy overnight as rain spreads to Leeds, becoming increasingly heavy and persistent later in the night.

Tuesday is set to be a washout, with a band of persistent, heavy rain stalling over the city until well into the night.

Heavy, persistent rain is likely to continue on Wednesday.

It will be noticeably colder on Thursday, with a risk of gales, ahead of a brighter but colder end to the week with wintry showers.

How to drive safely in heavy rain:

The first thing to do if you’re caught in heavy rain is to slow down and leave more space to the vehicle in front. Stopping distances as much as double in the wet due to a reduction in grip so you need to give yourself more time and space.

Put on your headlights. Heavy rain and spray reduces visibility for all road users. It’s important to put your headlights on not only to aid your vision but also to make your car more visible to other drivers. The Highway Code says you must use your headlights when visibility is less than 100 metres. Be careful about using fog lights, rear fogs can out-shine brake lights due to the glare and reflection from spray.

Be wary of puddles and standing water. What might look like a minor puddle at the side of the road could be hiding a deep pothole or dislodged drain cover that could cause serious damage to your car. Driving through even fairly shallow puddles could also cause aquaplaning, where your tyres’ tread is overwhelmed by the volume of water and they completely lose contact with the road. You’ll feel this as a lightening of the steering.

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