Met Office issues warnings for wind, rain and ice as parts of the UK are hit by flooding

The Met Office issued warnings for wind, rain and ice as parts of the UK are hit by flooding. 

Yellow and amber warnings for heavy rain, strong winds, snow and flooding are in effect from midnight and 3am today respectively for most of Scotland.

The flooding has affected other parts of the UK as well, as the river Ouse in York city centre has broken its banks this morning flooding riverside roads and pavements.

The river level was 2.61m high at 9.15am this morning and is predicted to rise further. 

The river Ouse in York city centre (pictured) has broken its banks this morning flooding riverside roads and pavements

A car was swept away in flood water near to the village of Muchelney in Somerset. Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: ‘The UK weather is going to remain unsettled with further spells of wet and windy weather due to the strengthening of the jet stream because of the weather in the US’

In Somerset, a car was swept away by flood water that has already flooded fields near to the village of Muchelney.

Fields near Barrowbridge in Somerset were also flooded, revealing long stretches that resembled a lake rather than separate fields. 

Weather forecasters have warned residents in the affected areas in Scotland to expect around 40-50mm of rain. 

Fast-flowing or deep floodwater is also expected which could cause danger to life.

A yellow warning for rain is in place in much of the central belt and southern parts of Scotland, while ones for snow and ice are also in place across much of the north of Scotland. 

The amber warning for ‘heavy rain bringing flooding’ is in place since midnight yesterday, Thursday December 29, until 2pm today, with yellow alerts being in place until 9pm.

Fields near Barrowbridge and Muchelney, both in Somerset, were also flooded, revealing long stretches that resembled a lake rather than separate fields (pictured: the flooded fields in Barrowbridge)

A pylon is surrounded by flood water in Barrowbridge, Somerset

Weather forecasters have warned residents in the affected areas in Scotland to expect around 40-50mm of rain around the area (pictured: members of the public in rainy London this morning)

The storm across the North Atlantic sent temperatures plunging in the US and has now triggered a yellow and amber weather warning over Scotland for heavy rain by the Met Office

The amber alert is in place since midnight yesterday, Thursday December 29, until 2pm today, with yellow alerts being in place until 9pm (pictured: a cyclist in weather-appropriate gear in London this morning)

The river level of the river Ouse in York was 2.61m high at 9.15am this morning and is predicted to rise further

Water covers fields near Muchelney, making roads invisible

Horses in Muchelney, Somerset, are surrounded by flood water that flooded their grassy fields

The Met Office said the deadly bomb cyclone that sent temperatures plunging in the US is now causing wet and windy weather in the UK.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: ‘The UK weather is going to remain unsettled with further spells of wet and windy weather due to the strengthening of the jet stream because of the weather in the US.

‘The effect it’s having on the UK is nowhere near as dramatic because that system has brought up a lot of cold air further south, across the US.

‘Indeed, the cyclone is only having an effect on the UK due to its impact on the North Atlantic jet stream.

‘What effect (the bomb cyclone) has had is to strengthen the jet stream, because the jet stream is basically driven by temperature differences.

‘So the starker the difference in temperature between the northern edge of it and southern edge, the stronger the jet stream becomes.’

He said the knock-on effect for the UK is spells of wet and windy weather over the next seven to 10 days.

Heavy rainfall and high winds are expected to impact most of the UK tomorrow as well.