Weather maps show when heavy rain and hail will hit as Met Office issues warning

Greater Manchester can expect heavy rain and some hail as wet weather approaches from Wednesday evening

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for part of the north west of England as the region braces for heavy rain and hail.

Cumbria, which was hit by heavy snow over the weekend, will be covered by the Met Office warning from midnight to 7pm tomorrow as forecasters warn that persistent rain and some snow melt are likely to lead to travel disruption.

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester can expect heavy rain and some hail as wet weather approaches from Wednesday evening into Thursday. The Met Office said clouds will be building throughout this afternoon before winds strengthen during the evening, with coastal gales possible overnight.

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A band of rain is then set to sweep across the region, leading to a drab and damp Thursday morning with drizzly outbreaks of rain, followed by heavier pulses arriving during the afternoon. However, there is some good news as temperatures are expected to be much milder than in recent days, with highs of 9C in the north west.

Towards the end of the week, the weather will remain unsettled with further heavy showers and rain. The Met Office said it will be windy but feeling mild when sheltered with temperatures climbing slightly above average for the time of year.

Weather maps show a band of heavy rain and hail heading towards Greater Manchester from the east, hitting the region at around 9pm on Wednesday. Further heavy showers are expected throughout Thursday with another band of rain approaching in the afternoon.

Issuing the rain warning for Cumbria, the Met Office said: "Rain setting in on Wednesday evening, will turn heavier for a time overnight, and then again during Thursday afternoon, before clearing during the evening. Twenty to forty millimetres of rain is likely quite widely, with fifty to eighty millimetres possible on some of the southern fells."

Forecasters also warned that there is a risk of flooding following snow in parts of the north west. "Snow melt from the fells is likely to boost river flow in places, and a few places might see drainage affected by recent snow ploughing, all increasing the possibility of a few flood impacts," the Met Office said.

Parts of Wales and the south west of England are also covered by rain warnings, as are parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Flooding is possible in the worst affected regions and some could face power cuts, forecasters warned.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Environment Agency has issued 24 flood warnings across England, mostly in the Midlands and the south, and another 112 flood alerts.