A flood alert was issued for the North East by the Environment Agency today (Saturday April 22).

Continued wet weather forecast for the region over the weekend means that flooding is considered possible in some low-lying areas.

The North East is among six areas of the country where flooding may occur as damp early spring weather abounds.

Alerts are the third tier of grading for severity of potential flooding issued by the agency.

Read more: FLOOD WARNINGS

Rain or showers are expected to affect many areas across the North of England and into Scotland throughout today with a 90-per cent expectation for precipitation, while temperatures are expected to average about 8-degrees centigrade, rising to a maximum 12C.

The unsettled weather is expected to ease slightly later in the day.

Read next:

* Emergency phone alert test to go ahead in North East this weekend

* Flooding updates and information for the North-East and North Yorkshire

* North East Weather LIVE: Heavy rain amid Yellow warning

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But the picture does not appear to improve for tomorrow (Sunday April 23).

Showers are again expected to affect many areas, although the region is expected to escape the worst of the wet weather across the country.

Beyond the weekend, the scenario does not appear to improve much into next week, with many areas expected to become colder and some wintry showers may even hit the North East on days up to Wednesday.