AN AMBER weather alert has been slapped on the UK as “heavy and persistent rain” threatens to swamp homes and put lives at risk. The Met Office warned the downpour could drag on into next week,

The UK is forecast to experience a significant freeze in the coming weeks, with five counties expected to be hit the hardest.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for parts of the UK this weekend, with heavy rain expected in Cumbria, Scotland and north-west England leading to possible flooding and power cuts

Updated UK weather forecasts suggest colder, more settled conditions heading into Christmas 2025, with snow possible in parts of Britain as temperatures fall and high pressure builds.

Temperatures could plummet to as low as -6C in some parts of the UK in the days following Christmas.

Weather maps show a 250-mile span of snowfall stretching down from Scotland