Storm Herminia has unleashed heavy rain and strong winds across Wales and southern England, prompting a major incident declaration in Somerset. The storm has caused widespread flooding
and power outages, leading to the evacuation of more than 100 residents in the early hours of Monday.
Severe weather and warnings
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds, which are expected to persist into Tuesday. Forecasters warn of potential flooding, including flash floods triggered by thunderstorms. The storm, which originated in Spain and France, has already caused significant disruption, following in the wake of Storm Éowyn, which left two people dead and widespread damage across the UK and Ireland.
A yellow weather warning for rain remains in effect for southern England until 10:00 GMT on Tuesday, while another for wind covers south-west Wales and much of southern England until 06:00 GMT. Wind gusts of up to 70mph have been recorded in coastal areas, with inland areas experiencing gusts of up to 50mph, raising concerns about damage to buildings and travel disruption.
Impact in Somerset
In Somerset, areas including Chard, Ilminster, Somerton, and South Petherton have been severely affected by flooding. A care home in South Petherton was evacuated overnight, and residents of an over-50s estate in Charlton Mackrell were rescued by boat. Emergency rest centers have been established, and several roads, schools, and businesses remain closed. River levels across the county remain high, with multiple flood warnings in place.
Broader UK impacts
Storm Herminia has caused travel chaos, with National Rail urging passengers to check their journeys. ScotRail, Transport for Wales, and CrossCountry services have been particularly affected by wind and rain-related disruptions. On Sunday, gusts of 83mph were recorded in Berry Head, Devon, and 81mph in Capel Curig, North Wales.
In western Wales, seven American students were rescued by RNLI volunteers after becoming stranded on a tidal island during stormy conditions. Elsewhere, a landslide in Barrington, Somerset, blocked a road, requiring emergency clean-up operations.
International effects and context
The Spanish weather service, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), named Storm Herminia on Friday as it brought heavy rain and strong winds to northern Spain and western France. Gusts exceeded 62mph, and flooding left vehicles and buildings submerged. French authorities also reported a British sailor missing after his yacht was found damaged along the French coast.
Although Herminia has caused significant disruption, it has not been classified as a storm by the UK Met Office. In contrast, Storm Éowyn, described as the most powerful storm in a decade, caused widespread destruction and two fatalities last week. Éowyn’s impact included power outages for nearly one million properties and extensive travel disruptions. Recovery efforts are ongoing, with 65,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland still without power.
Climate change warning
Scottish First Minister John Swinney highlighted Storm Éowyn as a stark reminder of the growing impacts of climate change, which is expected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
As Storm Herminia continues to batter the UK, residents are advised to stay alert, follow weather warnings, and take precautions to stay safe during the adverse conditions. Photo by Barbara Cook, Wikimedia commons.