Darragh’s downpours! UK climate map reveals the place torrential rain and gale-force winds will hit because the Met Office points an AMBER climate warning – and listing of flood warnings continues to develop
Britain is preparing itself for torrential rain and gale-force winds as the Met Office issues an Amber weather warning while Storm Darragh approaches.
The fourth-named storm of the season is expected to bring winds of up to 80mph and heavy rain on this afternoon and into the weekend – while 130 flood alerts have been issued.
The storm is ‘likely to pack quite a punch over the next few days’, as the Met Office issued a rare amber warning – the second highest alert level – for ‘potentially damaging’ 80mph gusts in England and Wales between 3am and 9pm on Saturday.
People in these areas have been urged to ‘take action to protect yourself and your property’, as disruption is ‘more likely and more widespread’.
Snow could also hit hilly areas of northern England on Saturday.
A yellow warning for rain will be in place for Northern Ireland and Wales, which were badly affected by flooding during Storm Bert, from 3pm on Friday until 12pm on Saturday.
Up to 60mm of rain could fall in these areas during the warning period, which may lead to some flooding and disruption, forecasters said.
Satellite imagery showed that the storm was brewing out in the Atlantic, but began making its way across into Europe yesterday evening as it is set to hit the UK this afternoon.
Satellite imagery shows that the storm travelled across the Atlantic as it is set to hit the UK this afternoon
If the deep low pressure system is named, it will be given the title Storm Darragh – following on from storms Connall on November 27 and Bert on November 22
There are 20 flood warnings in place where flooding is expected (red), and 104 flood alerts where flooding is possible (orange) according to the Gov.uk flood checking service
Meteorologists warned of travel disruption with bad conditions expected to impact road, rail, air and ferry services – while homes and businesses could be flooded.
The Environment Agency had 61 flood alerts and six warnings in place for England yesterday, while Natural Resources Wales imposed 15 alerts and one warning.
Rhondda Cynon Taf, where between 200 and 300 properties were flooded during Storm Bert last month, is set to be hit by heavy rain once again.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued more than 30 flood alerts and warnings, while the Environment Agency (EA) in England has more than 20 red flood warnings in place, which mean flooding is expected and residents and business owners should ‘act now’.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said the weather service is ‘a bit concerned’ about the risk of flooding in parts of Wales and Northern Ireland where there is ‘heightened sensitivity’ due to recent heavy rainfall.
Mr Stroud added: ‘The wind particularly is set to be reasonably disruptive and potentially quite damaging.
‘We are rather concerned about the strength of the winds affecting the Irish sea coasts and this is likely to have impacts on Irish ferry services. Trees could come down onto roads and people need to be aware of this and allow extra time for travel, especially in rural spots.’
Strong gusts are forecast to batter the country and the Met Office said the wind may cause disruption to travel, with difficult driving conditions likely.
National Rail warned of possible train disruption across all of England and Wales from today, with a chance of speed restrictions being imposed on some routes as a safety precaution.
The Met Office said buildings could be damaged this weekend by ’tiles blown from roofs’, while spray and flooding could lead to difficult road conditions for motorists.
Power cuts and mobile phone coverage outages could occur, communities may become cut off by flooded roads and some routes and bridges could close.
Forecasters also said ‘injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties’.
The Met Office issued a rare amber warning – the second highest alert level – for ‘potentially damaging’ 80mph gusts in England and Wales between 3am and 9pm on Saturday
A Met Office rain and wind warning is in place from tomorrow at 3pm until Sunday at 6am
The Met Office currently has three possible scenarios for the incoming storm tomorrow
And they warned of a ‘small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life’ and a ‘small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris’.
A yellow weather warning for wind for all of the UK, except for central and northern Scotland, is also in place from 3pm on Friday until 6am on Sunday.
National Highways, which runs the UK’s motorways and busiest A-roads, has issued a severe weather alert for Saturday and has warned motorists in the South West and North West to prepare for gale force winds.
It said routes likely to be affected by the strongest winds include the M5 in northern Somerset, the A30 in Cornwall and the M6 in Cheshire.
Severe winds are already affecting travel in parts of the country with the M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire was being closed on Thursday night because of gusty weather.
Storm Darragh is due to cross Ireland late on Friday, then parts of England and Wales on Saturday, clearing to the east of England on Saturday night or early Sunday.
The EA said it is carefully monitoring the progress of the storm ahead of the weekend.
Katharine Smith, flood duty manager at the EA, said: ‘EA teams are out on the ground and will support local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.
‘We urge people not to drive though flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.’
Hill snow could fall in northern areas above 200m (650ft), while around 15mm (0.6in) to 25mm (1in) of rain may fall quite widely, particularly across central, northern and western parts of England and Wales.
The warning added that ‘exposed higher ground in the north and west – particularly parts of Wales, which are at greatest risk of seeing flooding impacts’ – could locally see 50mm (2in) to 70mm (2.8in).
Winds are expected to quite widely gust to around 40 to 50mph inland but locally could gust in excess of 60mph.
Around coasts, winds may gust to 60 to 70mph, ‘perhaps locally nearer 80 mph’.
The storm will then clear to the east on Saturday night, with forecasters expecting colder northerly air to then push down across the UK from the north.
The Met Office advised people to take steps to protect their property from strong winds, saying: ‘Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them. Items include bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences.’
It added in the warning: ‘If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves. Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea.’
Mike Silverstone, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘While there is still uncertainty about the track and depth of the low pressure, Friday night and Saturday will be wet and very windy across parts of the UK.
‘Some model solutions have the low pressure further north and much deeper, bringing very strong winds and heavy rain, whilst other model solutions have the low pressure further south and not as deep, still bringing unsettled weather but not as impactful.’
He added: ‘A yellow national severe weather warning for wind and rain has been issued for the whole of Wales and England from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning.
‘Given the potential for disruption from this system, it is important to keep up to date with the latest forecast. National Severe Weather Warnings are likely to be updated as certainty around the unsettled weather increases.’
