Storm Babet Targets the UK: Met Office Warns of Rare 'Danger to Life' Situation as 70mph Gale Force Winds and a Month's Worth of Rain Approach
Storm Babet is on the horizon for the UK today, following a rare 'danger to life' warning issued by the Met Office. The impending tempest brings with it the threat of 70mph gale force winds and an excess of rain expected to be equivalent to over a month's worth of precipitation.
Ireland witnessed the tumultuous arrival of this second named storm of the season, causing widespread chaos. The region experienced car submergence and washouts, while supermarkets and hospitals grappled with biblical-level floods.
The Met Office has been compelled to release a red warning from 6 pm today until midday on Friday, indicating a 'danger to life from fast-flowing or deep floodwater,' primarily in areas of eastern Scotland.
Storm Babet has already left its mark on the UK, leading to commuter disruptions for rail passengers and cautionary advisories for motorists in England and Northern Ireland, urging them to navigate safely due to the accumulation of surface water in various regions.
A troubling image from Gloucestershire Police showcases a crashed vehicle between junctions 14 and 13 of the M5, exemplifying the challenges that drivers face amid these treacherous conditions.
Additionally, astonishing footage captures 20-foot waves mercilessly battering the northeast coast of England this morning, serving as a stark reminder for Britons to prepare for the impending storm.
Meteorological experts have underlined that 'Scotland will bear the brunt of Storm Babet.' The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) anticipates 'unprecedented levels of rain,' with predictions of up to 10 inches (250mm) expected to fall. This has prompted the issuance of six flood warnings and 14 flood alerts.
In Cork, Ireland, a city of significant size, striking visuals illustrate vehicles entirely submerged in water, a testament to the relentless rainfall. The town center of Midleton, County Cork, was severely impacted, leading to nearly 1,000 homes and businesses losing power, and over 100 properties succumbing to flooding. Midleton Community Hospital was not spared as well, with footage showing hospital beds, mobility scooters, and wheelchairs floating in the ward. The Irish Defence Forces have been deployed to assist those stranded, and the local hospital had to be evacuated. Cork Council reported that the county experienced a month's worth of rain within just 24 hours.
Storm Babet, named after a woman from the Netherlands who claimed to have been born during a gale, has already left a trail of destruction in Ireland, disrupted commutes, and toppled trees in England. Weather experts are forewarning that the eastern regions of Scotland, including places like Brechin, Forfar, and Kirriemuir, could face the brunt of 'exceptionally heavy and persistent rain.'
Jason Kelly, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, emphasized, 'Confidence has increased in the chances of considerable impacts from rainfall in parts of the east of Scotland from Storm Babet, which has resulted in the escalation to the Red warning. A significant amount of rain, ranging from 100-150mm, is expected to fall widely within the warning period, with some areas likely to see 200-250mm, which is likely to lead to significant flooding.'
This marks the first issuance of a red warning for rain in the UK since Storm Dennis in February 2020. Photo by Christine Matthews, Wikimedia commons.