Britain is set to be battered by a named storm so severe that it could lead to a rare red weather warning being issued.
Storm Babet – the second named storm of the season after Agnes last month – will bring torrential rain and high winds that could cause widespread flooding to swathes of the country.
The Met Office has issued a four-day yellow warning for rain that begins at 6am today across southern Scotland, northern and eastern parts of England, as well as Northern Ireland, and will last until 6am on Saturday.
It will expand on Wednesday to include most of Scotland, where it is likely to reach amber or even red. A red warning is issued only when dangerous weather is forecast and it is ‘very likely there will be a risk to life’.
Storm Babet will first appear in the southwest this morning, with clouds, wind and rain gradually pushing through the region for much of today.
The Met has issued a map showing the storm as it passes through Cornwall and Wales, which will experience wind speeds of up to 34 miles per hour.
Storm Babet – the second named storm of the season after Agnes last month – will bring torrential rain and high winds that could cause widespread flooding to swathes of the country
Areas in England are set to be hit by more than 100mm (4ins) of rainfall in the week, with isolated parts facing up to 150mm (6ins)
The Met has issued a map showing the storm as it passes through Cornwall at 11am today, which will experience wind speeds of up to 34 miles per hour.
The Met Office’s yellow warning for rain is in place from 6am today until Saturday morning. It will expand on Wednesday to include most of Scotland, as well as huge swathes of England and Northern Ireland
Cornwall and Wales will experience winds of up to 34 miles per hour as Storm Babet passes through before hitting Scotland and northern England with days of rainfall
Red warnings are rare, with the last one coming in November 2021 during the gale-force winds of Storm Arwen in Scotland.
Up to 20cm (8in) of rain is expected to fall in some areas compared with the typical October total of just under 17cm (6.5in).
Met Office chief meteorologist Steven Keates said: ‘Heavy and persistent rain will fall onto already saturated ground bringing a risk of flooding.
‘It is important to stay up to date with warnings from your local flood warning agency as well as the local authorities.
‘For Scotland, this rain will be fairly heavy and persistent through much of the second half of the week and into the early part of the weekend.
‘As well as heavy rain, Storm Babet will bring some very strong winds and large waves near some eastern coasts too.
‘Gusts in excess of 60mph are possible in eastern and northern Scotland from Thursday. It is likely Met Office warnings will be updated through the week.’
Downpours may cause ‘fast-flowing and deep floodwater’ that could pose a ‘danger to life’ and the transport network could suffer major disruption.
Motorists may find themselves passing through flood water as torrential rain hits the UK
Two men swim in the flood waters near the Kingussie Camanachd Club at the Dell in Kingussie near Aviemore
The River Spey in flood at Kingussie near Aviemore. Those in the north of Scotland have been warned there is still a ‘risk to life’ from severe flooding
Sand bags and road closures in place in Kingussie
Britain is set to be hit by severe rainfall from Storm Babet starting today
The flooded Dell sports field in Kingussie near Aviemore
Southern England experienced its first autumn frost yesterday as temperatures plummeted below zero – ahead of the arrival of Storm Babet, which is expected to batter the UK this week.
Areas in England are set to be hit by more than 100mm (4ins) of rainfall in the week, with isolated parts facing up to 150mm (6ins). Forecasters warned that communities could be cut off for days and that the downpours could also give way to ‘fast-flowing and deep floodwater’.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), working with the Met Office, will issue flood alerts and warnings ahead of the latest storm sweeping in.
Forecasters say people should not be fooled by a brief respite of some dry weather expected on Thursday before 70mph winds arrive.
Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: ‘We are expecting some exceptionally wet weather in Scotland later in the week.
‘We are on yellow warnings at the moment but that may well change. I would not be surprised if we saw an amber warning and it’s not out of the bounds of possibility that it could go further than that. We could be seeing some really nasty pictures of flooding.’
David Morgan, flood duty manager for Sepa, said: ‘Storm Babet will bring heavy rain and high winds across Scotland from Wednesday evening, starting in the South-West before moving across to the North-East through Thursday and into the weekend.
‘Flood alerts and warnings will be issued as required. If you live or work in an area that could be affected, consider any steps you need to take now to be prepared and stay safe, and to take extra care if you need to travel.’
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has urged the public to exercise ‘extreme caution’, particularly along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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