The Environment Agency (EA) has issued 85 warnings for England, meaning flooding is expected, mainly concentrated in the south-west and Midlands. A further 245 flood alerts are in place, meaning flooding is possible, from North Yorkshire to Cornwall and from the Welsh borders to Norfolk. Natural Resources Wales has another 11 flood alerts in place while Scotland has one flood warning and five flood alerts.
'January has been exceptionally wet because we've seen a very persistent Atlantic weather pattern,' explained Met Office science manager Dr Amy Doherty. 'A strong jet stream has repeatedly steered low-pressure systems towards the UK, bringing frequent spells of rain and wind. 'With little opportunity for drier conditions in between, the ground has become saturated, so even moderate rainfall has had a greater impact. 'This succession of Atlantic systems is the main reason rainfall totals this month are well above average for many areas.'
After weeks of persistent rain, Southern California's drizzle ends Tuesday, ushering in dry conditions and warmer temperatures for the coming weeks. Southern California has experienced record rainfall since October, with downtown Los Angeles already receiving 14.11 inches - nearly 10 inches above normal for the period. Santa Ana winds are expected this weekend, but fire danger remains low because the region's soils are saturated from recent storms.