Storm Babet will hit Britain tonight with more than a month’s worth of rain, 70mph winds and conditions so severe that a rare red weather warning could be issued.
The Met Office‘s second named storm of the season will bring up to 200mm (8in) of rain and gale-force winds that could bring widespread flooding and a ‘danger to life’.
Yellow weather warnings are in force from tomorrow morning until Saturday, but the alert is likely to be escalated and reach amber or even red in parts of Scotland.
As the storm approaches tonight, forecasters said gale-force gusts could occur along the coasts of Wales and South West England, as well as to the west of higher ground areas such as Dartmoor in southern Devon and Eryri in North West Wales.
Travel disruption is also expected across the UK – with National Rail already saying CrossCountry and Great Western Railway services between Exeter, Paignton and Plymouth are likely to be disrupted from 5.30pm today due to the severe weather.
Babet – which comes three weeks after 84mph Storm Agnes hit the UK – is forecast to cause ‘a very nasty spell of weather’, and Scotland is likely to bear the brunt of it.
The yellow warnings for rain and wind cover much of Scotland, eastern Northern Ireland, the North East of England, Yorkshire, the East Midlands and East Anglia.
The Met Office’s second named storm of the season will bring up to 200mm (8in) of rain
A Nasa satellite image released today shows Storm Babet approaching Europe last night
These alerts – which also warn of power cuts and the possible collapse of buildings due to flooding – could be upgraded to amber or even red over the coming days.
A red warning is issued only when dangerous weather is forecast and it is ‘very likely there will be a risk to life’.
People are then advised to avoid travelling where possible and to take action to keep safe.
Red warnings are rare in the UK, with only a handful of recent examples including in February 2022 for Storm Eunice, which was the most damaging storm to hit England and Wales since February 2014.
Others were issued for Storm Arwen on north-eastern coasts in November 2021 and Storm Dennis in parts of South Wales in February 2020.
During storm Babet, as much as 150mm (6in) to 200mm (8in) of rain is expected to fall on central and eastern areas of Scotland and there is a possibility of 70mph gale-force winds affecting northern parts of the UK, forecasters warned.
Scotland typically receives 168mm (6.6in) of rainfall in October, but the country will receive more than this amount in the span of a few days.
Parts of England can expect more than 100mm (4in) of rainfall during the week with some isolated areas facing up to 150mm (6in).
Downpours may cause ‘fast-flowing and deep floodwater’ that could pose a ‘danger to life’ and the transport network could suffer major disruption.
There is also a chance of essential services like gas, water and mobile phone signals being disrupted. The east coast of Scotland could also be battered by huge waves.
WEDNESDAY: Four days of rain warnings start with two that come into force on Wednesday
THURSDAY: This will be the biggest day of impacts based on the number of warnings in place
FRIDAY: This is the same as Thursday, apart from the Northern Ireland warning which is over
SATURDAY: Rain warnings will continue to cover much of England and Scotland on Saturday
The heaviest rain is expected in eastern areas of Scotland, with the ground already saturated in many areas after recent flooding.
A month’s worth of rain fell in a 24-hour period from October 7 to 8 in Scotland, triggering landslides and trapping drivers.
Communities in Aviemore, Highlands, Argyll and Bute, and Perthshire were badly impacted October, with weather so bad it was compared to the Beast from the East in 2018.
Ten motorists were airlifted to safety after 2,000 tons of debris swept across the A83, and large parts of the Scottish rail network were also shut down as lines were turned into rivers.
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, and we continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7.
‘Impacts from surface water and rivers are likely, and with catchments saturated from recent heavy rain and flooding, we’re urging people to be prepared for potential flooding.
‘There is also concern that surface water flooding may be exacerbated by debris blocking drainage, culverts, etc as a result of the high winds.
‘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.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: ‘A disruptive period of weather is on the way.
‘There’s some high totals (of rain) which have the potential to disrupt travel plans… possibility of power cuts as well as the obvious risk of flooding.
‘As you look at Wednesday, the first pulse of rain is looking to particularly influence Northern Ireland, Wales and the southwest of England, and into Thursday.
‘But it’s as you move from Thursday and into the week that shift very much focuses more towards central and eastern Scotland, but also some central and eastern areas of England as well.’
He added that further weather warnings are likely to be announced by the Met Office in the coming days.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has urged the public to exercise ‘extreme caution’, particularly along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.
The sun rises on a cold morning over the quay and River Stour at Christchurch in Dorset today
Boats in the quay at Christchurch in Dorset this morning ahead of the arrival of Storm Babet
A beautiful sunrise at Christchurch in Dorset this morning before the storm sweeps in
Sam Hughes, the charity’s water safety partner, said: ‘The forecasted strong winds along with heavy rain are likely to cause dangerous conditions for those visiting the coast around the UK and Ireland.
‘The RNLI advises staying a safe distance away from the water and cliff edges as the conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea. It is not worth risking your life.
‘If you see someone else in danger in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard if by the coast, or the fire service if inland. If you have something that floats that they can hold on to, throw it to them. Don’t go in the water yourself – you may end up in difficulty too.’
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.’Great Western Railway
It comes after southern England experienced its first autumn frost of the year yesterday as temperatures plummeted below zero.
Charlwood in Surrey was the chilliest place in England with -1.4C (29F), while the cold snap was also felt in Benson in Oxfordshire, Farnborough in Hampshire and Lakenheath in Suffolk, where the mercury fell to -1C (30F).
Gatwick and Stansted airports reported readings of 0C (32F), while the Scottish Highlands was hit by temperatures of -2.2C (28F).
As many as 35 weather stations reported temperatures below freezing last night, the Met Office said. The last such widespread frost was 172 days ago on April 27.
The RAC was fearing an estimated 20 per cent spike in callouts yesterday on what it dubbed ‘Flat Battery Monday’ as car motors were more likely to fail due to the freezing night.
In the Republic of Ireland, Met Éireann has issued orange weather warnings for Cork and Waterford as spells of heavy rain and blustery winds are expected to arrive this morning.
The Met Éireann warning will be in effect from 6am today until 6am tomorrow. The forecaster told residents to expect considerable rainfall combined with ‘blustery east to southeast winds at times’.
Storm Babet could cause poor visibility, localised flooding, difficult driving conditions and possible wave overtopping at high tide, the forecaster said.
Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, Kilkenny and Wexford were given a yellow rain warning that comes into effect at 6am today.
A yellow rain warning for Connacht will be in place from noon today until noon tomorrow, while one for Antrim, Armagh and Down will begin at 6am tomorrow and run until noon on Thursday.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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