Storm Bert in Shropshire: Communities face being stranded and homes could be flood damaged, Met Office warns

The Met Office have warned the county could also face travel disruption, with heavy rain anticipated this weekend.

A yellow weather warning for rain currently covers a huge chunk of Shropshire to the west, including Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Ludlow. Most of Wales is also affected by the warning, which is in place until 6am tomorrow.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Heavy rain is likely cause some travel disruption and flooding this weekend.

"Some communities may be cut off by flooded roads, spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures."

'Possible power cuts'

The spokesman also warned of "possible power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses, homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings," and "fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life".

"Delays or cancellations to train and bus services are possible," he added.

"A deep area of low pressure is expected to bring a spell of prolonged and, at times, heavy rainfall across a large part of the UK this weekend. 

"Across Wales and western England, rain and hill snow is expected to develop during the early hours of Saturday morning before falling as rain to all levels by late morning and continuing through to early Sunday morning.

"50-75mm of rain is expected to fall fairly widely with 100-125mm of rain over higher ground, particularly in south Wales. 

"There is a chance that prolonged heavy rain could become slow-moving over south Wales, with up to 150mm possible in a few places and it is here where impacts are most likely. 

"Strong southerly winds will accompany the heavy rain and may locally exacerbate impacts."

Flood alerts

The Met Office also advise people in at risk areas to prepare a flood plan and have an emergency flood kit, for people travelling to check road conditions or bus/train timetables, and for people to have torches, batteries, mobile phone power packs and other essentials for if there is a power cut.

A flood alert remains in place for the Tern and Perry catchments in Shropshire.

The Environment Agency's flood warning service said: "River levels are rising at the Tern - Walcot river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall. 

"Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is possible over the next few days. 

"We expect flooding to affect low lying land and roads adjacent to the river from Wolverley to Newport. Other locations that may be affected include Market Drayton, Wem and Rodington.

"Further heavy rainfall is forecast over the next 48 hours.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded."