Heavy rain and gale force winds will hit Sussex everyday this week as the Met Office extended its forecast for bad weather.

It has issued a severe weather warning for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as the wettest ever start to a year continues.

Wednesday will see winds of up to 80mph combine with up to 30mm of rain on high land.

Rail services are expected to be affected, with Southeastern already advising passengers of possible disruption to services on Tuesday and Wednesday because of possible fallen trees and damaged tracks. 

Network Rail has put in place speed restrictions on part of the network from 11pm tonight and into tomorrow.

Michelle Ulyatt, customer relations manager for Southeastern, said: “We’ve seen the wettest January in a century and the forecast of more heavy rain on top of this brings a real risk of further landslips, flooding and falling trees."


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The worst of the weather will be felt in the middle of the day to early afternoon, and there are warnings of coastal flooding due to large waves.

On Thursday evening a further spell of heavy and persistent rain will arrive on Thursday evening and during part of Friday.

And yet another  area of heavy rain will come during Saturday morning.

The rain will be accompanied by very strong winds, with gusts to severe gale force (70 mph, perhaps locally 80 mph), mainly in exposed and coastal areas.

The rain could bring disruption to travel especially in areas where flooding has occurred recently, or is ongoing.