WARNINGS are in place for rain in St Helens amid forecasts Storm Francis could lead to downpours for the next 22 hours.

As reported yesterday, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for both wind and rain in the region, including St Helens, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There have been heavy showers since the early hours and although the rainfall could be less severe through this morning and the early afternoon, the Met Office is then predicting downpours from 3pm on Tuesday to 7am on Wednesday.

Hour-by-hour Met Office forecast for St Helens (published at 9am on Tuesday)

10am: 16C, 80 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 35mph

11am: 17C, 50 per cent chance of rain, wind gust 30mph

noon: 17C, 20 per cent chance of rain, wind gust 26mph

1pm: 18C, 50 per cent chain of rain, wind gust 31mph

2pm: 17C, 50 per cent chance of rain, wind gust 34mph

3pm: 17C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 37mph

4pm: 16C, 80 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust, 34mph

5pm: 16C, 60 per cent chance of rain, wind gust 34mph

6pm: 16C, 90 per cent chance of heavt rain, wind gust 35mph

7pm: 16C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 35mph

8pm: 15C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 40mph

9pm:15C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 43mph

10pm: 15C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 43mph

11pm: 15C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 43mph

midnight: 15C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 44mph

1am: 14C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 43mph

2am:  14C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 42mph

3am: 14C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 40mph

4am:14C, 80 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 38mph

5am: 15C, 90 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 36mph

6am: 14C, 80 per cent chance of heavy rain, wind gust 35mph

7am: 14C, 50 per cent chance of rain, wind gust 32mph

8am:14C, 40 per cent chance of rain, wind gust 30mph

9am:15C, 20 per cent chance of rain, wind gust 27mph

The heavy rain could lead to some flooding and travel disruption, the Met Office says, while trees and power supplies could be affected by wind.

Gusts of wind could reach beyond 40mph by this evening.

Chief meteorologist Andy Page said: "The UK is in for another unseasonably wet and windy spell with Storm Francis arriving on Tuesday.

"There will be strong winds and heavy rain, especially in the west of the UK.

"A number of severe weather warnings have been issued and these warnings can be updated regularly so please keep up to date with the latest Met Office forecast."