Storm Babet has brought a rare and intense weather warning to eastern Scotland and eastern parts of England, with areas of low pressure moving northwards across France and the Channel. Strong winds from an east to south-easterly direction, unlike the usual south-westerly direction, are expected to hit the region, according to Metdesk.
The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for parts of eastern Scotland, with Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly warning that “eastern parts of Scotland will see exceptional amounts of rainfall over the next few days and the significant accumulations are likely to cause considerable impacts from Storm Babet.” Kelly also highlighted the potential for heavy rainfall, with some locations possibly seeing 200-220mm, which could cause flooding and disruption to daily life.
The red warning area includes Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, and Perth and Kinross, with the warning in place from 6pm on Thursday until noon on Friday. Some areas may see 200-250mm of rain, an amount considered heavy even for Scotland, with the record for the most rain in one day set in 1974 at the Sloy power station by Loch Lomond.
Storm BabetRed warnings, which are reserved for the most extreme weather impacts, are relatively rare, with only one or two issued per year. According to Metdesk, the vast majority of red warnings issued between 2011 and 2018 occurred in December and January. The most recent red warning was issued in July 2022 for extreme heat in central and southern England, while previous warnings were issued for extreme weather events such as Storm Dennis and Storm Arwen.
While it is too early to determine whether Storm Babet is related to climate breakdown, it is likely that extreme rainfall events like this are becoming more common and intense due to human-caused climate change. Flooding has become more frequent and severe in many parts of the world, particularly in Europe, Asia, and North America, although the situation is also affected by human factors such as flood defenses and land use.
As the storm moves in, residents in the affected areas are advised to take precautions to stay safe and informed. With the potential for flooding, disruption to travel, and danger to life, Storm Babet is a significant weather event that requires careful attention and planning.