The wet streets of Preston Pic: Paul Melling

Preston’s Christmas lights switch on is set to coincide with a strong and westerly flow according to weather forecasters.

In true Preston tradition the first Fishergate switch on will see revellers needing their umbrellas and anoraks.

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The Met Office has issued a weather warning for a weekend washout in Preston and Lancashire.

Lasting from 3pm on Saturday to 3am on Monday the 36 hours of heavy rain and wind is expected to batter the city.

The chief forecasters says: “A strong, moist westerly flow is expected to develop during Saturday and last through Sunday before clearing to the southeast on Monday.

“A frontal system aligned within this flow is expected to bring a period of heavy and persistent rain, this aided by tropical air being entrained into the system. Many parts of the warning area are likely to see 70-100 mm of rain, with some of the more exposed parts of north Wales and northwest England possibly seeing as much as 150-200 mm through the period. This amount of additional rainfall falling on to already saturated ground is likely to lead to flooding, either from standing water, or from rivers bursting their banks.

“There is some uncertainty in the exact areas likely to be affected by the heaviest rain, perhaps more especially southwest Scotland. As such, this warning will be kept under review to hone areas most at risk of the heaviest rain, and to potentially escalate to an Amber, should significant impacts become more likely.”

Let’s hope Alesha Dixon is bringing her pac-a-mac!