UPDATE: Storms forecast to batter Gwent again tonight

NATURAL Resources Wales is asking people to remain vigilant as a band of persistent heavy rain and gale-force winds approach Wales again.

Up to 20 millimetres of rain is expected across South Wales with up to 40 millimetres (one-and-a-half inches) on higher ground from tonight into tomorrow morning.

With the ground saturated after periods of heavy rain before Christmas, this further rainfall will quickly find its way into rivers and streams.

There is also an ongoing risk that leaves and other debris brought down by strong winds could block drains and cause roads to flood.

People travelling after the Christmas break are advised to allow extra time as driving conditions may be difficult.

Natural Resources Wales is also asking people to take care near fast-flowing and swollen rivers and along the coast where strong winds could cause large waves.

It advises people to keep an eye on local news and weather forecasts for news of any disruption in their area, and warns of the dangers of walking or driving through flood water.

Officers from Natural Resources Wales will be monitoring forecasts closely during this time and will issue flood alerts and flood warnings when required.

Teams continue to check that flood defences are in good working order and that rivers are clear of debris which could restrict river flows.

Flood warnings are updated every 15 minutes at www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/alerts

People can also follow the latest updates on Twitter @natreswales

STORMS are forecast to batter Gwent once again tonight, days after heavy rain caused flooding in large parts of Gwent on Christmas Eve.

Tuesday proved to be a busy day and night for fire fighters who carried out numerous rescues and diverted or pumped out flood water across the worst affected areas of the county.

A driver and two babies were rescued by a passing tow truck when their vehicle was trapped in flood water in Llanellen near Abergavenny at around 8pm on Tuesday night. Gwent Police and fire fighters from Abergavenny and Barry rushed to the scene but no one was hurt.

An hour before, a woman and her child were rescued from a car in Abbey Road, Monmouth, shortly before 7pm by fire crews from the town, with help from Malpas station in Newport.

On Lighthouse Road in Duffryn, Newport, fire fighters spent three hours pumping out six feet of floodwater from a path, while in Argoed near Blackwood, crews from Cefn Fforest pumped water out of a kitchen and living room, and made safe a culvert at a house on Woodland Terrace shortly before 10pm before handing over to Caerphilly council.

Flood alerts were out for the Wye, Usk, Rhymney, Ebbw (Sirhowy) and Cynon rivers on Christmas Eve and large swathes of fields and farmland around Abergavenny were under water as rivers and streams overflowed and burst their banks.

Fire fighters had to divert water from a culvert away from homes in Pandy near Abergavenny into sewerage drains with the help of the council in Pandy shortly after 10pm on Christmas Eve. In all 10 homes were affected by flood water in Llanover Way, Abergavenny, at 10.40pm, and fire fighters spent five hours using a high volume pump to get rid of it.

The forecast for tonight is wet and very windy weather coming from the west with outbreaks of heavy rain clearing to showers by morning. Severe gales are expected on coasts, with a minimum temperature across Wales of 2°C.

Tomorrow, further blustery showers are expected with gales, severe on coasts, lasting for much of the day. Some sunny spells are possible in the afternoon with a maximum temperature of 10°C.

The outlook for Saturday to Monday is breezy with scattered showers, some showers heavy, and wintry over hills. Brighter for a time on Sunday before wet and windy weather returns overnight into Monday.