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Rain and high winds begin to hit UK Rain and high winds begin to hit UK
(about 1 hour later)
Heavy rain and high winds have begun to hit England and Wales as the remains of what was Hurricane Bertha reaches the country. Heavy rain and high winds are hitting England and Wales as the remains of what was Hurricane Bertha arrive.
A Met Office "be aware" yellow warning has been issued for some regions. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain for most of the UK, and is urging people to be aware of flooding, strong winds and large waves.
The storms are expected to head north and hit Scotland on Sunday evening and into Monday. The storms starting in the south and west are expected to head north-east and hit Scotland later on Sunday.
The Environment Agency said the bout of bad weather would not be as severe as the storms seen last winter but urged people to stay clear of risky areas. The Environment Agency said the weather was not as severe as last winter's storms.
BBC weather forecaster Emma Boorman said rain had started to push over parts of England and Wales, with most of those areas already having had outbreaks of rain overnight. But it urged holidaymakers to check flood warnings before setting off in their cars.
The wind has also increased overnight but it was too early to determine what effect it might have had, she added. On Sunday morning, winds were gusting near 40mph in some areas of the south and west.
BBC forecaster Jay Wynne said most of the bad weather would have cleared by the evening but added: "Just about everywhere can expect several hours of really quite heavy rainfall."
Issuing its yellow warning - covering all of the UK except for the Outer Hebrides and part of Northern Ireland - the Met Office said the unseasonable weather "could disrupt transport and make outdoor activities dangerous".
Hurricane Bertha hit Caribbean islands on Monday before dissipating over the central Atlantic.Hurricane Bertha hit Caribbean islands on Monday before dissipating over the central Atlantic.
The storm now crossing the UK is a low-pressure system which has picked up moisture and energy left over from Bertha.The storm now crossing the UK is a low-pressure system which has picked up moisture and energy left over from Bertha.
Parts of the country are expected to see between half an inch and an inch of rain on Sunday. Wind gusts of 30-40 mph are expected inland and could reach 40-50 mph in coastal areas. Parts of the country are expected to see between one and two inches of rain on Sunday.
Races re-routedRaces re-routed
The Red Cross has mobilised hundreds of volunteers who are on stand-by amid fears that people will need to be evacuated from their homes. The Red Cross has hundreds of volunteers on stand-by amid fears that people will need to be evacuated from their homes.
The Environment Agency urged holidaymakers to check flood warnings before setting off in their cars, but the agency's Craig Woolhouse said the weather would not be as bad as that which wreaked havoc earlier this year. The Environment Agency's Craig Woolhouse said: "Compared to the storms that we saw in January, February time, this isn't going to be as serious or severe."
"Compared to the storms that we saw in January, February time this isn't going to be as serious or severe. But he said such weather happening in the summer period created its own hazards and asked people to stay clear of at-risk areas such as seaside promenades.
"But happening as it does in the summer period with so many people visiting the area it does create its own hazards and if people can stay clear of at risk risk areas in terms of watching waves and promenades that would be very helpful." Organisers of the RideLondon-Surrey 100 cycle race shortened the route by 14 miles to 86 miles, and altered it to avoid Leith Hill and Box Hill, in Surrey.
Organisers of the RideLondon-Surrey 100 cycle race shortened the route and altered it to avoid Leith Hill and Box Hill, in Surrey. A statement on the event website said the decision had been taken in light of the "localised, heavy rain" that was forecast.
A statement on the event website said the decision had been taken in light of the heavy rain that was forecast. And yacht race organisers have re-routed the course of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, which starts in Cowes on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, to try to avoid the worst of the bad weather.
Meanwhile, yacht race organisers have re-routed the course of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, which starts in Cowes on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, to try to avoid the worst of the bad weather. The Royal Racing Club said it had decided to reverse the course and sail anti-clockwise.
The Royal Racing Club said it had decided to reverse the course and sail anticlockwise.
As the storm moved northwards, southern England would be left with brighter, showery weather later on Sunday, a BBC Weather spokeswoman said.As the storm moved northwards, southern England would be left with brighter, showery weather later on Sunday, a BBC Weather spokeswoman said.
Environment minister George Eustice said: "We are working closely with the Flood Forecasting Centre, the Environment Agency, local authorities and emergency services to ensure we are prepared for any potential flooding this weekend."Environment minister George Eustice said: "We are working closely with the Flood Forecasting Centre, the Environment Agency, local authorities and emergency services to ensure we are prepared for any potential flooding this weekend."
The regions affected by the yellow weather warnings are: Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, East of England, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, London & South East England, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, South West England, Strathclyde, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber.
What's the weather like where you are? How are you coping with the heavy rains and high winds? Please email your experiences, including your contact details, to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the heading 'Hurricane Bertha'.What's the weather like where you are? How are you coping with the heavy rains and high winds? Please email your experiences, including your contact details, to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the heading 'Hurricane Bertha'.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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