Somerset floods: Major clean up operation underway
Emergency rest centres have been opened and some roads, schools and shops have been shut due to the flooding. Ian Withers, from the Environment Agency, said there was "a huge amount of water" in the rivers and the systems saying it is impossible to predict where the intense showers will fall. He said: "So the message for us, our partners and communities is to think we could be the victims of this type of rain, and with climate change, that is more likely to happen, so we need to make our homes, businesses or travel plans more resilient."
The Met Office said that over the month of January, the south of the UK had been wetter than the north, which is not normally the case.It said conditions were improving with "a quieter spell of weather" due from Thursday.
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Metro
5 hours ago
- Metro
Map shows where Storm Floris will the hit the UK on Monday
You might want to tie down the garden furniture because a summer storm with strong winds is about to land in the UK. Storm Floris, the first rough weather front of the summer, has appeared in weather radars as it makes its way towards the British Isles. The Met Office named the storm, which is expected to hit on Monday with 85mph gusts, as it issued two yellow weather warnings. The worst of the weather is set to land in north of England, Scotland, north Wales and Northern Ireland next week, where buildings could be damaged and flying debris is a risk, the forecaster warned. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Read on for more details about where the summer storm will touchdown next week. Storm Floris will bring 'unseasonably strong and potentially disruptive winds' through Monday and into early Tuesday, the Met Office said. The yellow weather warning is in force from 6am on Monday, August 4, until 6am on Tuesday. Matthew Lehnert, a chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.' Winds of this scale mean venturing out at the height of the storm could be dangerous due to flying debris in some areas. People in the yellow weather warning area might want to prepare for power cuts and check in on vulnerable loved ones, as outages could have a knock-on effect on mobile phone coverage Some roads and bridges, especially those in exposed areas, might have to close as the storm sweeps. More Trending Road, rail, air and ferry journeys could also see longer journeys and cancellations. The UK has seen a long stretch of sunny weather in recent weeks. However, storms are not as uncommon in the summer as you might think – there was Storm Lilian in August last year, Antoni and Betty in August 2023, and storms Ellen and Francis in August 2020. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024/25 season after the destruction from Storm Éowyn in January, when red warnings were issued and at least two people died. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 'Acid rain' is back – should we be worried? MORE: I'll sleep soundly through the next heatwave thanks to this game-changing item from Oodie MORE: Map shows where thunderstorms and heavy rain will hit UK
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Exact time Storm Floris will hit UK as ‘danger to life' warning issued
Several UK areas have been plunged under a yellow weather warning for wind as forecasters warn of major disruption due to the conditions. The strongest winds could travel up to 85mph Brits have been told to brace themselves for fierce winds as a storm is set to batter areas across the UK. Storm Floris is predicted to cause havoc across Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England. The worst conditions could bring winds of 85mph along with torrential rain, the Met Office warned. Northern parts of the country have been plunged under a yellow warning from 6am on Monday until 6am the following day. Coastal areas could also feel the wrath of the storm, with westerly gusts of 40-50mph expected to take its toll. Exposed coasts and high ground could see the speed soar to a staggering 70mph. Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill has stressed that the conditions could have a disastrous impact in some areas due to the time of year. It comes after an exciting heatwave forecast with maps revealing the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK. He said: 'It's not that often that we get storms during the summer months, but it's worth bearing in mind that at this time of year we could see some increased disruption because of the fact that the trees are full of leaf and there are lots of outdoor activities planned. You may be camping, you may be trying to head to a festival… as a result we could see some significant impacts because of not only the rain, but also the winds.' Flying debris may cause injuries and pose a danger to life in places inside the warning zone, the Met Office said. As could 'large waves and beach material being thrown on to sea fronts, coastal roads and properties', it added. It is possible tiles will be blown from roofs and there may be power cuts. The weather could also disrupt road, rail, air and ferry services, and close bridges. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent. Named storms are more frequent in late autumn and winter but are 'not uncommon' for summer, the Met Office said. The weekend will see a combination of sunshine and showers before Floris hits. The forecast rain will not counteract the impacts of the driest start of the year since 1976 but will provide some short-term relief, said Environment Agency (EA) national drought manager Stuart Sampson. The UK has experienced three heatwaves so far this summer, which left four regions of England in drought. River flows and reservoir levels continue to be a concern, Mr Sampson said, adding: 'Everyone can play their part by using a little less water to ease pressures on our water supply.' RAC breakdown service's Rod Dennis said: 'This unseasonable bout of stormy weather will mean drivers in the north and west of the UK need to take extra care at the start of next week. It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured.' He advised motorists to slow down in poor weather, leave later if the conditions are too bad, and avoid exposed highland and coastal routes.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Storm Floris map shows where heavy rain and up to 85mph winds are set to hit the UK
The UK is bracing for Storm Floris to hit on Monday, with northern Eangland and Scotland set to be hit the hardest, with possible winds of up to 85mph. The Met Office has issued a Yellow wind warning over winds, which covers Northern Ireland, north Wales, northern England, and the whole of Scotland, where the hardest winds are expected along the coasts. The warning will be i n force from 6am on Monday until 6am on Tuesday. Heavy rain is also expected, with transport disruption possible. Matthew Lehnert is a Met Office Chief Meteorologist. He said: 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.' Going into Tuesday, the Yellow warning will remain with the east of the warning area still expected to see strong winds; however, the gusts will first begin to ease to the west on late Monday. Flying debris may cause injuries and pose a danger to life in places inside the warning zone, the Met Office said. As could 'large waves and beach material being thrown on to sea fronts, coastal roads and properties', it added. It is possible tiles will be blown from roofs and there may be power cuts. The weather could also disrupt road, rail, air and ferry services, and close bridges. Storm Floris is the sixth storm to be named in the 2024 to 2025 season. The last named storm was Éowyn in January. The Met Office said that while it is more likely that named storms hit in late autumn and winter, they can happen in summer. It follows the driest spring in the UK for more than a century, as well as three heatwaves in quick succession. June was the warmest month since records began. The hot temperatures left swathes of the UK on hosepipe bans as farmers warned of potential food shortages after being forced to harvest their crops early to avoid damage. Last month was the UK's fifth warmest July on record, according to provisional figures from the Met Office. The mean average temperature across the month was 16.8C, ranking it behind 2006 (17.8C), 2018 (17.2C), 1983 (17.1C) and 2013 (17.0C). All four UK nations recorded one of their top 10 warmest Julys: Scotland and Northern Ireland saw their sixth warmest, England its seventh and Wales its tenth. Met Office temperature records begin in 1884. But July also brought increasingly wet and temperamental weather. On Thursday, parts of England were warned about the possibility of flash floods in the Midlands, South and East of England and London. Heavy rain proceeded to pummel parts of the south of England. Less than a week earlier, parts of the UK were enjoying highs of 28C. The weather should stay relatively dry over this weekend ahead of the storm. The latest Met Office update says there will only be 'small amounts of cloud'.
