Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit parts of the UK this week, as the second named storm of the autumn, Storm Babet, is set to bring significant and widespread disruption. The Met Office has forecast that the storm will bring wet and windy weather across the country from Wednesday, with heavy downpours expected in most areas, particularly in eastern Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England.
A severe weather warning has been issued for central and eastern parts of Scotland, as rain is predicted to become heavy and persistent from Thursday to Saturday. According to the Met Office, up to 150-200mm of rain could accumulate in some areas of higher ground. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned residents to be prepared for potential flooding and will issue flood alerts and warnings as necessary.
Steven Keates, a deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, emphasized the importance of staying up to date with warnings from local flood warning agencies and authorities. “Storm Babet will bring impactful rain to many parts of the UK, but especially parts of eastern Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England later this week,” Keates stated. “Heavy and persistent rain will fall on to already saturated ground, bringing a risk of flooding. It’s crucial to stay informed and take necessary precautions.”
In addition to heavy rain, Storm Babet is also expected to bring strong winds, with gusts in excess of 60mph possible in eastern and northern Scotland from Thursday. The storm’s powerful winds will also generate large waves near eastern coasts.
UK StromGusts of 70mph were recorded just days ago, as the first named storm of the season, Agnes, swept across Britain and Ireland, causing damage, travel disruptions, and power outages. The name Babet was submitted by the Dutch national weather service, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), which partners with the Met Office to name storms.
David Morgan, a flood duty manager for Sepa, urges residents in areas that could be affected by flooding to take necessary precautions. “Storm Babet will bring heavy rain and high winds across Scotland from Wednesday evening, starting in the south-west before moving across to the north-east through Thursday and into the weekend,” Morgan warned. “Impacts from surface water and rivers are likely, and with catchments saturated from recent heavy rain and flooding, we’re urging people to be prepared for potential flooding.”
With the storm’s arrival just around the corner, residents are advised to take necessary precautions and stay informed about the latest updates and warnings.