Killer snowstorm which battered America is heading our way

Britain has been warned to prepare for downpours and flooding as the killer snowstorm which battered America heads for the UK.
A woman walks along a street in Philadelphia, after a blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill.A woman walks along a street in Philadelphia, after a blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill.
A woman walks along a street in Philadelphia, after a blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill.

Forecasters have predicted the weather system will hit Britain on Tuesday - but the North East should escape the worst of it

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning covering most of Wales, north-west England and west Scotland for rain and flooding.

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A Met spokesman said: "An active cold front is expected to become slow-moving across Wales, north-west England and south and west Scotland through Tuesday, and into Wednesday, before clearing to the south on Wednesday afternoon.

"Warm air of tropical origins is expected to be entrained into the system, leading to abundant moisture and heavy rain.

"Many parts of the warning area could see 50-100 mm of rain, whilst the most exposed upland parts of north Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland could see 150-200 mm.

"As such, there is the potential for river flooding, and also standing water on roads. Strong and gusty south-west winds will also develop."

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The US East Coast has seen up to 2ft (60cm) of snow as the blizzard, known as Storm Jonas, sweeps across the country.

Inbound and outbound flights from major airports across America were cancelled, at least 45 of which were coming from or going to the UK.

A state of emergency was declared across a vast swathe of the eastern seaboard, with individual states in near-shutdown after thousands of flights were cancelled, schools and government offices closed and sports and entertainment events called off.

At least 10 people have been killed in the US storm so far and it is thought thousands of homes lost power on Saturday.