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UK weather: Storm Herminia could bring flooding after Éowyn UK weather: major incident declared in Somerset as storms bring flooding
(about 3 hours later)
Met Office issues warnings for England and Wales, as Scotland and Northern Ireland continue cleanup operations More than 50 flood warnings and over 150 alerts in place for England as Storm Herminia hits Britain after Éowyn
Stormy weather is bringing the threat of flooding to homes and businesses and disrupted travel across large parts of England and Wales, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are still recovering from the impact of Storm Éowyn. A major incident has been declared in Somerset after homes and businesses were flooded, roads blocked and schools closed as stormy weather once again battered parts of the UK.
On Monday morning, there were 48 flood warnings and 172 alerts in place for England and three Met Office yellow warnings in England and Wales for heavy rain and strong winds. Rest centres were set up for people forced to leave their homes in three Somerset towns – Chard, Ilminster and Somerton – with some people reporting levels of flooding not seen for years.
While not as powerful as Éowyn, a low-pressure system was named Storm Herminia by meteorologists in Spain, which was expected to feel the strongest winds. On Monday afternoon, there were more than 50 flood warnings and more than 150 flood alerts in place for England, and three Met Office yellow warnings in England and Wales for heavy rain and strong winds.
While not as powerful as Storm Éowyn, which caused severe damage in Scotland and Northern Ireland at the weekend, a low-pressure system was named Storm Herminia by meteorologists in Spain, which was expected to feel the strongest winds.
The Met Office warned that heavy, blustery showers and possible thunderstorms would lead to some flooding in London, south-east England and south-west England. It said there could be interruption to power supplies and other services.The Met Office warned that heavy, blustery showers and possible thunderstorms would lead to some flooding in London, south-east England and south-west England. It said there could be interruption to power supplies and other services.
Strong winds were driving in a succession of showers, some heavy, through Monday and Monday night, before easing during Tuesday morning. There was also a chance of lightning strikes and hail showers. Strong winds were forecast to drive in a succession of showers, some heavy, through Monday and Monday night, before easing on Tuesday morning. There was also a chance of lightning strikes and hail showers.
In Wales and parts of the West Midlands in England, the Met Office said heavy rain could lead to some flooding of roads and properties. There was a small chance some rural communities could be cut off by flooded roads. Up to 70mm of rain was expected over some high ground.In Wales and parts of the West Midlands in England, the Met Office said heavy rain could lead to some flooding of roads and properties. There was a small chance some rural communities could be cut off by flooded roads. Up to 70mm of rain was expected over some high ground.
There was also a warning in place for strong winds on Monday in Wales and across much of southern England that could cause delays to road, rail, air and ferry travel until 6am on Tuesday. A warning was also in place for strong winds on Monday in Wales and across much of southern England that could cause delays to road, rail, air and ferry travel until 6am on Tuesday.
The warnings come as scientists have said that the climate emergency is making extreme weather events more common.The warnings come as scientists have said that the climate emergency is making extreme weather events more common.
The flood and wind warnings follow some challenging conditions on Sunday. Okehampton in Devon had 35.8mm of rain, while an 83mph gust was recorded in Berry Head, south Devon, and 81mph in Capel Curig, north Wales. Flooding led to stretches of roads in Devon and Wiltshire being closed overnight on Sunday. Somerset council and Avon and Somerset police jointly declared the major incident.
A council spokesperson said: “Following intense rainfall across the region at the weekend, several parts of Somerset were flooded on Sunday afternoon, including roads and some homes in the centre of Chard and Ilminster.
“With further heavy rainfall expected to fall in the early hours of Monday morning, a major incident was called and a decision was made to carry out precautionary evacuations for residents living in properties in the worst-affected areas, as well as a caravan site thought to be at risk.
“Rest centres were set up in Chard, Ilminster and Somerton, and all the relevant agencies will continue to work to keep residents safe.”
People were evacuated from a care home, Burnworthy House, in South Petherton, and a landslip occurred in the village of Barrington, Somerset.
Stormont’s leaders have called on Northern Ireland’s energy network provider, NIE Networks, to offer goodwill payments to those who remained without power after Storm Éowyn.
About 65,000 homes and businesses remained without power in Northern Ireland, with some people told they might have to wait until 3 February to be reconnected.
Scotland is recovering from the effects of Storm Éowyn. ScotRail said its engineers had made “great progress” in removing debris and repairing damage, but several lines were still affected on Monday. The Largs to Ardrossan line will not reopen on Monday after an overhead gantry was brought down by a falling tree.Scotland is recovering from the effects of Storm Éowyn. ScotRail said its engineers had made “great progress” in removing debris and repairing damage, but several lines were still affected on Monday. The Largs to Ardrossan line will not reopen on Monday after an overhead gantry was brought down by a falling tree.
Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, echoed the warnings about the climate affecting the strength of storms. He told an event in Edinburgh on Monday: “It’s a warning to us that climate change is with us and the ferocity [of it].”Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, echoed the warnings about the climate affecting the strength of storms. He told an event in Edinburgh on Monday: “It’s a warning to us that climate change is with us and the ferocity [of it].”
Avanti West Coast said services to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh had resumed, but warned of late starts and possible delays on Scottish routes.Avanti West Coast said services to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh had resumed, but warned of late starts and possible delays on Scottish routes.
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks said about 74,000 customers remained without power at the end of Sunday as a result of Éowyn.
The Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: “Things are going to stay unsettled in the next few days. We’re getting successive spells of wet and windy weather, which is obviously adding to impacts.”The Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: “Things are going to stay unsettled in the next few days. We’re getting successive spells of wet and windy weather, which is obviously adding to impacts.”