Displaying items by tag: flood alerts
Storm Eunice: rare red warning
The Met Office released a red weather warning (the highest level) for 18 February for parts of south-west England and south Wales as there is a danger to life from flying debris. Gusts of 90 mph would cause significant disruption. Damage to homes, train cancellations and power cuts are also likely. There is a lower level warning for wind in the rest of Wales and most of England. Storm Eunice comes 48 hours after Storm Dudley caused widespread disruption and power cuts in Scotland and north England. Cornwall council warned that the winds will coincide with high spring tides along the coastline, possibly leading to flooding. The storm is likely to be as powerful as the one in 2014 which saw homes evacuated amid widespread floods.
Extreme weather dangers
The UK has experienced a week of dangerous snow and ice culminating in below -20C temperatures. Local councils are warning residents to take extra care while the cold snap lasts, as the weekend weather will turn ‘quite hazardous’. The Centrepoint charity for homeless young people is urging the public to contact them if they see people living out in the cold. Charities are also advised to offer anyone seen to be sleeping rough a hot drink, meal, blankets or clothing. Over 100 street cleaning and waste collection teams have been diverted from regular duties to clear snow from footpaths and routes to medical centres to enable COVID immunisation to continue. On 11 February nine flood warnings indicated flooding is very likely; a further 88 flood alerts indicate that flooding is possible as the snow melts and further freezing rain continues.