Met Office issues weekend weather warnings as 80mm downpour follows Storm Éowyn
Met Office issues weekend weather warnings as 80mm downpour follows Storm Éowyn
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The UK is bracing for a wet and windy weekend, with the potential for flooding and travel chaos following the severe impact of Storm Éowyn. Parts of England and Wales are expected to see up to 80mm of rain, prompting the Met Office to issue several amber and yellow weather warnings for Saturday and Sunday.
This comes after Friday's stormy conditions saw winds hitting 100mph, resulting in one fatality, power outages affecting over a million people, and widespread travel disruptions throughout the UK and Ireland. On Sunday, from 8am to 3pm, a Met Office yellow wind warning will be active for south-west England, coastal areas around the English and Scottish Irish Sea, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with gusts of 50 to 60mph anticipated across the warning zones.
Additionally, a yellow rain warning will cover southern and central England and Wales from 8am on Sunday until 6am on Monday. The forecast predicts two bouts of heavy rain and thunderstorms, with some regions potentially receiving up to 80mm of rainfall, raising the risk of floods.
While 10 to 20mm is likely to be more common, areas of high ground could experience 30 to 50mm. The expected deluge raises concerns about flooding to homes and businesses, possible power cuts, and hazardous driving conditions. The Met Office has also highlighted a "small chance" that rapid or deep floodwater could pose a life-threatening risk.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey has provided an update on the weekend weather, forecasting a mixed bag for the UK. He said: "Looking at Sunday, it’s set to be a fairly fine start for a lot of areas – another ridge of high pressure building in to keep things fairly settled, with some sunny spells in there.".
