Met Office tells Brits in 31 areas to prepare 'emergency' kit for 14 hours

Brits are being warned to brace for hours of torrential rain, and might want to consider preparing an "emergency" kit as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning covering 31 areas.

The alert runs from midnight until 2pm on Wednesday, with forecasters warning that flooding, travel disruption and even power cuts are possible in the South West and parts of Wales.

The Met Office has urged residents in the warning zone to check whether their property is at risk of flooding and, if necessary, prepare a flood plan and emergency kit. That kit, the Met Office says, should include essential items such as food, water, first aid supplies and key documents in case of evacuation. Brits should also make sure that everyone knows where to find this kit and what to do if their area is hit by flooding.

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The forecaster said: "Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary. Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit."

Spray and standing water on the roads could make journeys longer and more dangerous, the Met Office adds, while bus and train services may also be affected. In the worst-hit spots, a handful of homes and businesses may flood and some communities could see interruptions to power and other essential services.

Advanced weather modelling maps by WXCharts show bands of rain sweeping across parts of the UK tomorrow, with the Midlands and the North West also seemingly facing some heavy downpours.

The Met Office's yellow alert stretches across large parts of southern England and Wales. In Wales, areas in the firing line include Cardiff, Swansea and other surrounding towns. Across the South West, heavy downpours are expected in Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Taunton, Bath, Bristol and parts of Gloucester.

Forecasters are urging drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys. Train and bus passengers are advised to check timetables before setting out, as services may be delayed or cancelled. The Met Office has warned weather conditions can change quickly and has advised people to stay up to date with the latest alerts.

Full list of regions and local authorities affected

London & South East England

• Hampshire
• Southampton
• West Berkshire

South West England

• Bath and North East Somerset
• Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
• Bristol
• Cornwall
• Devon
• Dorset
• Gloucestershire
• North Somerset
• Plymouth
• Somerset
• South Gloucestershire
• Swindon
• Torbay
• Wiltshire

Wales

• Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Cardiff
• Carmarthenshire
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Newport
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Swansea
• Torfaen
• Vale of Glamorgan