Blackburn and other parts of East Lancashire are set to get battered by wind and rain today (October 20) as Storm Babet hits the UK.

‘Danger to life’ red weather warnings have been issued in parts of Scotland and a yellow weather warning covers the whole of East Lancashire, while an amber warning straddles the Pennines.

The yellow warning is in force until 6am on Saturday (October 21). People have been warned to expect: fast flowing or deep floodwater, flooded properties, spray and flooding on roads, power cuts and public transport delays.

In Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn, heavy rain is forecast for most of the day, with wind measuring around 22mph, with gusts of up to 47mph.

The Met Office said: "Further heavy rain will move north and west across England and Wales during Friday, easing overnight, and 25 to 50mm of rain is expected to fall quite widely, though some higher ground in Northern England could see 60 to 80mm.

"Parts of north Wales could also see in excess of 100mm of rain through the period.

"Strong easterly winds may exacerbate the impacts brought about by the heavy rain across Northern England, where gusts of 60mph are possible near the east coast and over and to west of the Pennines."

Met Office chief meteorologist, Jason Kelly, added: “Eastern parts of Scotland will see exceptional amounts of rainfall over the next few days and the significant accumulations are likely to cause considerable impacts from Storm Babet.

“Numerous amber and yellow rainfall warnings are in place for rainfall over the coming days, up-to and including Saturday, but in the red-warning area 100 to 150mm of rain is expected to fall quite widely, with some locations possibly seeing 200 to 220mm, which is expected to cause considerable impacts with flooding likely.”

Blackburn’s hour-by-hour forecast

  • 10am: Heavy rain. 11°C. Wind speeds of 41mph.
  • 11am: Heavy rain. 10°C. Wind speeds of 43mph.
  • 12pm: Heavy rain. 10°C. Wind speeds of 47mph.
  • 1pm: Heavy rain. 10°C. Wind speeds of 44mph.
  • 2pm: Cloudy. 10°C. Wind speeds of 43mph.
  • 3pm: Cloudy. 10°C. Wind speeds of 46mph.
  • 4pm: Cloudy. 10°C. Wind speeds of 45mph.
  • 5pm: Cloudy. 10°C. Wind speeds of 41mph.
  • 6pm: Light rain. 9°C. Wind speeds of 40mph.
  • 7pm: Heavy rain. 9°C. Wind speeds of 40mph.
  • 8pm: Heavy rain. 9°C. Wind speeds of 40mph.
  • 9pm: Light rain. 9°C. Wind speeds of 37mph.
  • 11pm: Cloudy. 9°C. Wind speeds of 36mph.
  • 12am: Cloudy. 9°C. Wind speeds of 36mph.