Britain to be hit by 80mph winds, torrential downpours and snow tomorrow – as Met Office names Storm Chandra

Britain faces torrential rain, heavy snow and strong winds as Storm Chandra hits today and tomorrow with 120 areas on flood watch amid ongoing travel disruption.

The Met Office named the storm this morning and issued ten yellow and amber warnings for up to 80mm (3.1in) of rain, 20cm (8in) of snow and 80mph gusts.

The 35-hour storm is expected to begin hitting South West England from 1pm today, before spreading to the rest of the UK including London until the end of tomorrow. 

Forecasters said some communities could be ‘cut off’ by flooded roads, following Storm Ingrid over the weekend which saw police launch a search for a missing kayaker in Devon and part of the historic Teignmouth Grand Pier wash away.

A succession of Atlantic weather systems is driving wet and windy weather across the UK with snow likely on higher ground in the Pennines and Scottish mountains.

The strongest winds will be in the South West and Wales, where 80mph gusts could hit Pembrokeshire and the Isles of Scilly; and 75mph expected in Northern Ireland.

Flooding also remained a major risk this week with the Environment Agency putting out 97 flood alerts and 19 warnings for England, while Natural Resources Wales issued two alerts and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency had four warnings.

Meanwhile the UK Health Security Agency activated cold health alerts for northern England from 6pm tonight until Friday amid a ‘greater risk to life of vulnerable people’.

During Storm Ingrid over the weekend, Devon and Cornwall Police responded to reports of a kayaker getting into difficulty on the River Exe in Tiverton on Saturday.

The kayak was recovered but the man, who is in his 40s, remains missing.

Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said today: ‘Storm Chandra will bring a range of hazards to the UK through Monday night and Tuesday.

‘Initially strong winds will impact the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and southwest Wales which are still vulnerable after Storm Goretti, gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible here. Heavy rain is an additional hazard as it falls on saturated ground in Dorset and southern parts of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.

‘As Chandra interacts with colder air further north snow becomes a hazard, with 10 to 20cm of snow possibly accumulating over higher ground in the Pennines, southern Scotland and the Highlands. With a complex spell of weather, its important people stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings in your area.’

Forecasters have issued a yellow rain warning for an area covering South West England and Wales from 1pm today until 10am tomorrow.

Some 20mm (0.8in) to 30mm (1.2in) of rainfall is expected to fall widely with 50mm (2in) to 80mm (3.1in) likely across higher ground, especially in Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Brecon Beacons.

An amber warning for rain for a smaller area of Devon and Cornwall will run from 5pm today until 9am tomorrow. 

A 12-hour yellow warning for rain was also issued across parts of the South East of England from midnight tonight to midday tomorrow.

The Met Office said there could be some ‘large waves’ in some coastal areas covered by the warnings today and tomorrow, with potential for ‘debris being blown around’ and ’tiles coming off roofs’.

A yellow wind warning was issued for the far South West of England and West Wales, for 80mph gusts along exposed coasts between 5am and 4pm tomorrow.

Meanwhile a yellow warning for rain and snow was in place for higher ground in northern England and Scotland from midnight tonight until 5pm tomorrow.

Up to 50mm (2in) of rain is possible here and up to 20cm (8in) of snow in areas above 500m (1,600ft). 

Ground above 400m (1,300ft) could get 10cm (4in) of snow and areas above 300m (1,000ft) could see 5cm (2in).

Alerts are also in place for wind and rain in Northern Ireland today and tomorrow. 

An amber wind alert between 5am and 9pm tomorrow warns of 75mph gusts, while heavy rain is also expected at times today and tomorrow.

Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: ‘Most parts of the UK will certainly see wet and windy (weather) over the next couple of days.

‘The most impactful weather’s going to be across some southern and western parts.’

He added: ‘We could potentially see up to 80mm of rain across parts of the South West, coupled with gales as well, particularly across Cornwall.

‘It looks particularly windy across the far south-west of England later on Monday into Tuesday.’

Mr Petagna said the wind and rain is going to make things feel ‘chilly’ over the next couple of days, but said the temperatures are generally average.

Met Office chief forecaster Steve Willington, said: ‘Unsettled conditions will continue through the week, with a combination of rain, brisk winds and some further hill snow, particularly in northern areas where colder air remains in place.

‘While many areas will see typical late January conditions, there is enhanced potential for some impactful weather on Monday night into Tuesday.’

The latest warnings come as a clear-up continues after Storm Ingrid hit Devon and Cornwall.

A sea wall protecting the railway line at nearby Dawlish partially collapsed and train services were suspended between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth on Saturday.

Part of the historic Teignmouth Grand Pier washed away in the storm – while in York, the River Ouse burst its banks over the weekend.

In South Shields, a sea wall on the South Pier suffered a partial collapse during Storm Ingrid – having been previously damaged by severe weather in 2023 when Storm Babet ripped off the pier’s lighthouse.

The body of a man recovered from the sea at Exmouth, Devon, on Sunday afternoon is thought to be antiques shop owner Matthew Upham, one of two swimmers who went missing on Christmas Day.

Formal identification is yet to be carried out, but officers said the family of a 64-year-old man from Budleigh Salterton had been informed.

The body of a 47-year-old man, thought to be the other swimmer who went missing on December 25, was recovered last Tuesday.