Storm Conall, the third named storm of the autumn, brought widespread disruption to the UK on Wednesday, particularly affecting southern England.
The Met Office warned of travel delays, potential power cuts, and up to 40mm of rain that fell overnight in areas including London, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and West Sussex.
Another 5-8mm of rain was expected during the day, with the Met Office issuing a severe weather warning for the region.
The storm led to significant travel disruptions, including train cancellations between Ascot in Berkshire and Aldershot in Hampshire, and a blocked railway line on the Isle of Wight.
Networks including Thameslink, Gatwick Express, and Southern also faced delays.
The impact of last weekend’s storm Bert continued to affect travel, especially in Wales, where trains between Hereford and Newport were disrupted.
Flood warnings remain in place as Storm Conall causes significant travel and weather disruptions.For some residents, the effects of the storm were deeply personal. Lynn Bridgeman, living in a caravan park in Taunton, Somerset, described an “absolutely terrifying experience” when strong winds caused her caravan to nearly topple.
Her neighbors had to cut through the damaged awning to free her from the caravan, which had been trapped by debris.
Becky Lyons, the owner of Pawesome Pet Shop in Chippenham, Wiltshire, faced flooding in the early hours of Monday. The water rose to 2ft, damaging equipment and stock in her store. “There was mud and silt everywhere,” she said, adding that the floodwaters had damaged much of her business’s inventory.
The Environment Agency issued almost 100 flood warnings across England and Wales, with one severe warning for the River Nene at the Billing Aquadrome in Northamptonshire, where officials warned of a “danger to life.”
Storm Conall, which the Dutch forecaster KNMI named, passed over the UK by early afternoon, but its effects continued to be felt, especially in areas affected by flooding.
As the storm moves on, the weather is expected to improve slightly on Thursday, with frost and fog clearing to give way to a dry, chilly day.
However, the west may experience cloudy, windy conditions with patchy rain.