The Met Office has issued weather warnings as Storm Agnes prepares to hit the UK, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that could lead to severe flooding, power cuts, and falling trees. The first named storm of the season is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, bringing winds of up to 75mph and treacherous conditions along coastlines.
A yellow wind warning has been issued, covering a vast area of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and parts of England. The warning stretches from midday on Wednesday to 7am on Thursday, and includes the south-west, West Midlands, and most of the north of England. Two yellow rain warnings are also in place, covering parts of Scotland, with the possibility of up to 60mm of rain.
The most powerful winds are expected on the Irish Sea coasts, with gusts of up to 75mph forecast on higher ground and exposed coastal areas. Inland areas can expect gusts of 45 to 50mph, making it a turbulent ride for anyone caught outside. The storm’s strong winds could cause power cuts, blow tiles from roofs, disrupt railways and roads, and knock over trees.
Storm AgnesOli Claydon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, warned that the storm could also disrupt the Irish Sea ferry network and cause chaos along the coastlines. “The storm centre itself remains over the Atlantic and will continue approaching and cross the UK through Wednesday afternoon and will move away Wednesday night into Thursday,” he said. “In terms of most impacted areas, we’re looking at the Irish Sea coasts, so south-eastern parts of Northern Ireland, west and north-western coasts of Wales, and the north-western coast of England.”
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued a warning to stay away from the water and cliff edges as the storm’s conditions could be treacherous. Sam Hughes, a RNLI water safety partner, urged people to stay safe and not risk their lives. “The RNLI advises staying a safe distance away from the water and cliff edges as the conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea,” he said. “It is not worth risking your life. If you see someone else in danger in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. If you have something that floats that they can hold on to, throw it to them. Don’t go in the water yourself – you may end up in difficulty too.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned of flooding impacts in south-west and central areas of Scotland. David Morgan, the flood duty manager at Sepa, said: “Flooding impacts are possible, particularly in south-west and central areas of Scotland. Along the south-west coast, we may see waves overtopping and flooding of causeways, promenades, properties, and roads. Impacts are expected to be localised and around high tide. We may also see minor flooding impacts from surface water and rivers. Flood alerts and warnings are being issued as necessary and we continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7.”