WEATHER

Storm Ciarán: Met Office issues amber weather warning

Strong gusts raise fears of flying debris along south coast

Tuesday October 31 2023, 7.45pm, The Times

Flying debris and coastal flooding are expected in southern England on Thursday as Storm Ciarán makes landfall.

The Met Office has issued warnings for wind and rain. The storm, which is expected to reach the south coast early in the morning, will bring with it gusts of about 80mph and large waves that could wash up objects on to seafronts, which could possibly cause damage to roads and properties.

The amber warnings for wind, the second most serious type given by the Met Office, have been issued for two areas. The first, affecting the southwest of England and the edge of Wales in Pembrokeshire, takes effect from 3am on Thursday and is due to end at 1pm. The second applies to the rest of England’s southern coastline and is in place from 6am to 8pm.

• Storm Ciarán: how will schools, flights and trains be affected?

The latest risk of flooding, which will affect the south coast of England, comes after heavy rain in Newry, Co Down, above, and Storm Babet, which caused misery across large parts of the country

BRENDAN DIGNEY/PA

A car became stranded on the Strood, the causeway to Mersea Island in Essex

STEPHEN HUNTLEY/HVC

As well as flying debris that could result in a danger to life, the Met Office said residents should expect disruption to travel and utilities, as well as possible damage to buildings. It warned that roofs could be blown off, power lines and trees brought down, and that some roads, bridges and railway lines could be closed.

Yellow warnings for rain are already in place in several parts of Britain and are expected to last until Friday.

Dan Suri, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Storm Ciarán is expected to bring very strong winds along southern coastal areas of England in particular where gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible — gusts perhaps exceeding 85mph in the most exposed locations. Further inland, gusts could reach up to 50 or 60mph.

“As well as strong winds, this deep low pressure system will bring heavy rain to many parts of the UK … 20-25mm of rain may fall quite widely, with 40-60mm possible over higher ground. Some parts of south Wales and southwest England may see 80mm of rain. This rain will fall on already saturated ground, bringing the risk of flooding.”

A caravan park on the banks of the River Derwent in Stamford Bridge, near York

ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA

Further south along the river in Kexby

ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA

The Environment Agency has issued more than 25 flood warnings, its second most serious type, across the UK. Several are grouped along England’s southern coast, from Penzance in Cornwall to Littlehampton in West Sussex, as well as in the east of England stretching from inland areas near Boston, Lincolnshire, to the seaside at Sunderland.

Kate Marks, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Significant flooding impacts are possible from Wednesday through to Friday in response to rain from Storm Ciarán. We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.”

Parts of Newry in Co Down flooded on Tuesday after a night of heavy rain that led to a canal bursting its banks.