THREE storms are expected to hit Essex within four days.

The Met Office has released three weather warnings for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, as heavy rain and gale force winds are expected to hit the county.

Weather experts are warning to people to be vigilant, keep track as the warnings are updated and beware there may be flooding.

Tom Defty, of Essex Weather Centre, said: “South Essex is always going to be worst off as it has seen the heaviest rainfall but we are asking people to be vigilant as there will be three significant weather events in three to four days, where one is enough.

“There could be 20 to 30mm in six hours.

“We probably haven’t seen the worst in Essex, compared to the rest of the country we have got off fairly lightly.

“For the whole of February it is going to continue like the last three months, there will be wind and rain and more misery, with no end in sight.

“The main issue will be flooding, secondary will be the trees and power cuts, but they will be localised.

“We have never been in this situation before where the ground is so saturated the trees come down quite easily.”

He estimated gusts could reach 60mph inland and up to 70mph in coastal areas.