Brits informed to collect emergency kits by Met Office as Storm Austen to batter UK
The Met Office has issued a Scotland flood warning covering 26 areas, urging residents to prepare an emergency flood kit as Storm Austen brings 18 hours of heavy rain and the risk of flooding, power cuts and travel disruption
Heavy rain and fierce winds are expected across the UK on Friday and Saturday(Image: WXCHARTS)
The Met Office has called on residents in parts of the UK to put together an “emergency” kit ahead of Storm Austen’s imminent arrival.
Storm Austen is expected to hit Britain later today. The Met Office has put yellow weather warnings for wind in place across Wales and England for Friday and Saturday, with an amber wind warning issued for the far south-west of England.
The far south-west could experience wind speeds of up to 80mph, while coastal areas under yellow warnings may face gusts of 70mph. Heavy rainfall is also anticipated to pose a significant threat. A yellow warning for rain has additionally been issued, covering parts of north-eastern, central and southern Scotland.
Weather warnings for wind have been issued for Wales and England(Image: Met Office)
Running for 18 hours, from 6am on Friday until midnight, up to 80mm of rain could fall during this period.
The warning highlights that flooding could cause serious damage to homes and businesses, along with train and bus cancellations. Treacherous driving conditions are expected, and power cuts remain a real possibility, reports the Mirror.
The Met Office is urging those living under the yellow rain warning to consider drawing up a “flood plan and an emergency flood kit”. Guidance on what to include in such a kit has been made available.
What to include in emergency flood kit:
- Insurance documents and list of contact numbers.
- Torch and spare batteries.
- First aid kit and any prescription medicines.
- Warm waterproof clothes and blankets.
- Bottled water and snacks.
- Battery or wind-up radio.
Supplies for looking after your baby or pet The yellow rain warning also advises residents to prepare for possible power cuts ahead of time.
A weather warning for rain has been issued for Scotland(Image: Met Office)
The Met Office states: “It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”
Areas covered by Met Office rain warning in Scotland:
- Angus.
- Clackmannanshire.
- Dundee.
- Falkirk.
- Fife.
- Perth and Kinross.
- Stirling.
- Aberdeen.
- Aberdeenshire.
- Moray.
- East Ayrshire.
- East Dunbartonshire.
- East Renfrewshire.
- Glasgow.
- North Ayrshire.
- North Lanarkshire.
- Renfrewshire.
- South Ayrshire.
- South Lanarkshire.
- West Dunbartonshire.
- Dumfries and Galloway.
- East Lothian.
- Edinburgh.
- Midlothian Council.
- Scottish Borders.
- West Lothian.
Met Office forecast beyond Storm Austen:
Looking ahead past Storm Austen, the Met Office predicts weather conditions are “expected to remain unsettled through the weekend and into next week”.
The national weather service has designated a second storm, Storm Boelo, with fresh wind warnings issued for Saturday and Sunday. These cover Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England, where gusts could once again reach up to 80mph.
The warnings take effect at 6pm on Saturday and remain in place until 9pm on Sunday.
