Storm Chandra causes chaos throughout UK with flood alerts, street closures and cancellations
The M48 Severn Bridge is closed with The Humber Bridge shut to high-sided vehicles due to wind – snow has also been forecast in parts of the country as a number of weather warnings came into force
Storm Chandra is causing chaos(Image: )
Storm Chandra is wreaking havoc across much of Britain, bringing widespread travel chaos and flooding as fierce winds and torrential downpours batter the nation.
Tuesday morning (January 27) saw the M48 Severn Bridge forced to close, whilst The Humber Bridge was shut to high-sided vehicles owing to dangerous wind conditions. Snowfall was also predicted across parts of the country as multiple weather warnings took effect.
National Rail issued an alert stating that “poor weather may affect South Western Railway services until the end of the day”, whilst traffic travelling between England and Wales faced diversions via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
Gwent Police reported that the A40 had become impassable due to flooding between Abergavenny and Raglan, with stretches of various roads in Dorset, Somerset and east Devon also forced to shut because of floodwater.
Weather experts had cautioned that flooding and transport disruption were probable, alongside substantial snowfall across elevated terrain in northern England and Scotland.
Multiple weather warnings remained active on Tuesday, including amber alerts for south-west England and Northern Ireland’s eastern coastline for rainfall and winds respectively.
The Met Office warned that gusts reaching 60-70mph would pummel eastern Northern Ireland, with potential 75mph blasts in coastal areas, noting that “easterly winds of this strength are unusual and are likely to be impactful”.
An amber wind warning covered Northern Ireland’s eastern coast from 5am to 9pm on Tuesday, accompanied by an additional yellow rain and wind alert spanning the entire province throughout Tuesday. Across south-west England, where Storm Ingrid caused devastation and swept away sections of a historic pier over the weekend, meteorologists are predicting further deluges.
An amber rain warning remains active for south Devon, large parts of Dorset, southern Somerset and south-east Cornwall until 9am on Tuesday, with 30-50mm of rainfall expected widely and up to 60-80mm anticipated over the elevated terrain of south Dartmoor.
Less serious yellow warnings have been issued for a broader swathe of southern England, alongside portions of northern England and Scotland.
A yellow wind warning encompasses Cornwall, south-west Wales and sections of northern Devon from 5am to 4pm on Tuesday, whilst an additional yellow wind alert is active for south-western Scotland from 5am to midnight on Tuesday.
Yellow alerts for rain and snow have been declared for the Pennines and south-west Scotland from midnight to 5pm on Tuesday, where 2-5cm of snow may fall extensively with as much as 10-20cm potentially building up at higher altitudes.
A further yellow warning for rain and snow spans much of central Scotland from 6am to midnight on Tuesday.
A yellow rain warning is active from midnight until midday on Tuesday for large areas of south-east England, and for south-west England plus south and central Wales from 1pm on Monday to 10am on Tuesday.
Early Tuesday morning saw 69 flood warnings in effect across England, with the bulk concentrated in south-west England and four located in Yorkshire. Flood warnings have been issued for Aberbothrie and the River Isla at Coupar Angus in Scotland, with 17 flood alerts currently in effect across Wales.
Paul Gundersen, the Met Office’s chief forecaster, warned: “Initially, strong winds will impact the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and south-west 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 10-20cm 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.”
Nick Mullender, team leader of RAC mobile servicing and repairs, cautioned: “Flooding is highly likely, making many roads dangerous. Our message to drivers is simple: do not drive through standing water unless you are completely certain the water is shallow enough and it’s safe to do so.
“In these conditions, drivers need to slow down and stay alert. Wet roads can double stopping distances, so taking a cautious, steady approach and allowing extra time to react is essential.
“And if your vehicle already has known faults, now is not the time to take risks. Avoid unnecessary journeys and get issues fixed promptly by a trusted mobile mechanic or local garage.”
Storm Chandra is the next storm to be christened according to the western Europe storm naming group list, which is shared between the UK, Ireland and Netherlands.
