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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| UK braced for storms and flooding | UK braced for storms and flooding |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Large parts of England and Wales are preparing for what forecasters warn could be the worst storm of the winter. | |
| The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for much of the UK, with winds of up to 80mph (130km/h) expected in south and west Britain. | The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for much of the UK, with winds of up to 80mph (130km/h) expected in south and west Britain. |
| Forecasters said storms on Monday and Tuesday could disrupt travel and bring down power lines and trees. | |
| Ferries between Portsmouth and Bilbao in Spain have been cancelled because of a severe weather warning. | |
| P&O Ferries said it has cancelled its Sunday sailing from Portsmouth to Bilbao, and from Bilbao to Portsmouth on 11 March. | |
| The company's website also said sailings between Dover and Calais are being delayed by up to an hour because of the weather conditions. | |
| 'Strong message' | |
| The Environment Agency currently has one flood warning in place, at the Aldwark Bridge area in North Yorkshire, and 10 flood watches. | |
| It is urging people to stay away from coastal areas, particularly in Wales, and the south west and north west of England, from Sunday to Wednesday. | It is urging people to stay away from coastal areas, particularly in Wales, and the south west and north west of England, from Sunday to Wednesday. |
| FLOODLINE Call 0845 988 1188 | |
| David Rooke, head of risk management at the Environment Agency, told the BBC the predicted combination of up to 80mph gusts and higher than normal tides are likely to lead to flooding in coastal areas. | David Rooke, head of risk management at the Environment Agency, told the BBC the predicted combination of up to 80mph gusts and higher than normal tides are likely to lead to flooding in coastal areas. |
| "We're giving a very strong message to stay away from coastal areas," he said. | "We're giving a very strong message to stay away from coastal areas," he said. |
| "There will be huge waves, a lot of spray and it will be a very dangerous place to be." | "There will be huge waves, a lot of spray and it will be a very dangerous place to be." |
| The agency said it was "preparing for the worst" in Wales. | |
| 'Awesome sight' | |
| John Mosedale, from Environment Agency Wales, advised people against going to the coast to watch the rough seas and big waves because of the danger of being swept out to sea. | |
| "We are concerned that the sea surge could overtop defences along the coast of Wales," he said. | |
| "We advise people to steer clear of places where waves crash over the coast. | |
| "While they are an awesome sight, they do pose a very real and serious danger to people's lives." | |
| Emergency planning teams are meeting in Pembrokeshire and Cornwall to prepare for possible floods. A stand-by supply of sandbags has been provided. | |
| 'Severe' | |
| Cornwall's emergency planning officer Steve Winston said a combination of factors, including high spring tides and a very low pressure system, could lead to a "severe" event. | |
| BBC weather forecaster Peter Gibbs said a storm of this ferocity usually occurs once a year. | BBC weather forecaster Peter Gibbs said a storm of this ferocity usually occurs once a year. |
| Much of the severe weather this winter had hit the north of Britain, whereas this storm would affect the south and the west, he added. | Much of the severe weather this winter had hit the north of Britain, whereas this storm would affect the south and the west, he added. |
| Martin Young, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: "It will be very windy for many parts of the UK in the early part of next week, but especially so across coasts in the south. | Martin Young, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: "It will be very windy for many parts of the UK in the early part of next week, but especially so across coasts in the south. |
| "Southerly winds are expected to strengthen during the early hours of Monday causing severe gales. | "Southerly winds are expected to strengthen during the early hours of Monday causing severe gales. |
| "After a brief respite, further westerly severe gales are forecast for later in the day and into the early hours of Tuesday." | "After a brief respite, further westerly severe gales are forecast for later in the day and into the early hours of Tuesday." |