Birmingham braced for heavy rain on Friday

Birmingham is set for a spell of heavy rain later this week, as a long band of rain stretching from Dorset to East Yorkshire moves across England.

Weather maps from WX Charts show the band arriving on Friday 16 October, with the Midlands at its centre. The heaviest rain, shown in red on the maps, is forecast over Birmingham at about 3am on Friday, at around 9mm an hour.

Cold and wet

Temperatures at the time are expected to be just 3C or 4C, making for a cold, wet night and a damp start to Friday.

The Met Office usually defines heavy rain as more than 4mm an hour, so 9mm would be considerably heavy, although forecasts for the exact timing and intensity of rain several days ahead can change.

The Met Office's own forecast also shows rain from Thursday into Friday. "Rain slowly edging southeast on Thursday, clearing the southeast on Friday allowing high pressure to build into the weekend," it says.

A change in the season

The rain marks a turn towards colder, wetter weather as autumn sets in, after a mild start to October. It will be welcome in many ways: the region remains officially in drought, and reservoirs and rivers need sustained rainfall before they can recover.

But a short, heavy burst on dry ground can run off quickly rather than soaking in, which is why water companies and the Environment Agency say a long spell of steady rain over weeks is needed to make a real difference.

On the roads

Heavy rain in the dark makes driving harder. Motoring groups advise:

• slowing down and leaving at least double the usual gap to the vehicle in front
• using dipped headlights so you can be seen
• avoiding deep standing water, which can hide potholes and damage engines
• testing your brakes gently after driving through water

Leaves and drains

Falling leaves can block drains and gullies at this time of year, causing water to pool on roads and pavements. Blocked drains on public roads can be reported to Birmingham City Council.

What to expect after

Once the rain clears, high pressure is expected to bring a quieter, brighter weekend for many, with chilly nights. Forecasters say more changeable weather could return next week, so it is worth keeping an eye on the latest Met Office forecast.

Anyone planning to be out early on Friday, especially on foot or by bike, should allow extra time and wear something waterproof and visible. Bus and train passengers may also want to check for delays before setting off.