Rain, wind and snow set to pound UK

Communities are facing a battering by heavy wind, rain, and even snow as Valentine's Day storms wreak havoc across Britain.
Forecasters warn that the appalling conditions which have ravaged communities show no signs of abating, with heavy rain expected today and tomorrow.
The Met Office has warned wind, rain and snow is expected to strike in a "multi-pronged attack" with up to 40mm (1.6 ins) of rain set to fall in just six hours while gusts of up to 80mph blast through parts of the country.

The Environment Agency (EA) has 17 severe flood warnings - which mean a risk to life - in place in the Thames Valley and Somerset, as well as 131 flood warnings across England and Wales.
As well as surface water problems the rain could also impact on already full to bursting rivers while some coastal areas could be at risk as blustery conditions could bring large waves.
EA programme director Toby Willison told a Whitehall press briefing: "I expect we will see hundreds of properties looking to flood."

Around 56,000 households remain without power after gusts of up to 108mph battered parts of the country in the "Wild Wednesday" storms, which left one man dead and hundreds stranded as transport networks were hit.

In the highlands of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the rain could turn to snow, with 5cm to 10cm (2-4 ins) falling above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 20cm (8 ins) above 400 metres.

Windsor, Maidenhead and communities along the Thames in Surrey remain at high risk of flooding from the River Thames, with significant flooding of homes and businesses expected.
Flooding continues on the Somerset Levels and Moors, and there is still a high risk of coastal floods in Dorset.

EA chief executive Paul Leinster said: "We ask people to remain vigilant and take action where necessary. We expect to see river levels rising again with more rain forecast for Friday and Saturday."
Since early December, 5,800 properties have been flooded across the country, with high winds causing further problems yesterday.

Prime Minister David Cameron said that, while the country was in the grip of the severe weather, it remained the Government's immediate priority to do all it could to help affected local communities and coordinate the emergency response.

Culled from MSN News.