Storm Babet – live: Met Office ice warnings issued as flooding could last days

Grandmother, 83, among those killed as Storm Babet causes widespread flooding

Storm Babet: Plane skids off runway at Leeds Bradford Airport amid extreme weather

New flood warnings are expected to last into next week, the Environment Agency has said, after the torrential rain brought by Storm Babet saw hundreds of properties submerged in water.

Maureen Gilbert, an 83-year-old grandmother who died trying to flee her flooded home in Derbyshire, was confirmed on Sunday to be one of as many as seven people killed during weather-related indicents since Storm Babet made landfall.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued further overnight warnings for ice, which will remain in force in Scotland and northern England until 9am on Monday.

In England, where more than 1,250 properties have been flooded, Nottinghamshire County Council urged residents in 500 homes to evacuate as it declared a major incident in Retford due to high water levels along the River Idle.

The Environment Agency said more flood warnings are expected for some of the worst affected areas into next week – despite severe flood warnings, meaning risk of death or serious injury, being lifted.

Key Points

• Flooding could last until next week, Environment Agency says
• New ice warnings issued by Met Office
• Housebound grandmother died trying to flee flooded home
• Storm Babet death toll rises to seven

[22 October 2023 14:37 · Matt Mathers]

Residents return to ‘mind-blowing’ flood damage after Storm Babet

Residents in the most severely flooded part of Angus are returning to their homes to find “mind-blowing” levels of damage, as the clean-up begins in the wake of Storm Babet.

Angus and Aberdeenshire were badly hit by the storm and teams are clearing debris from roads, while those hit by flooding are making repairs.

Paul Cargill reports:

[22 October 2023 12:12 · Matt Mathers]

Derby city seeing record-breaking water levels

Derby City Council said it is seeing record-breaking water levels in the River Derwent and warned that cleaning up after the floods could take several days.

Three severe flood warnings – which means risk of death and serious injury – had been in place around the River Derwent in Derbyshire over the weekend but were downgraded on Sunday morning.

As of 11am, more than 200 flood warnings – where less dangerous flooding is expected – remained in place across England.

The Energy Network Association (ENA) said a “small handful” of homes would still be without power on Sunday after around 100,000 customers were initially affected by power cuts.

A man pulls a boy through flood water on a body board (Getty Images)

[22 October 2023 11:51 · Matt Mathers]

Power restored to more homes in Scotland

Power has been restored to more homes in Scotland following Storm Babet.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said it had restored supplies to all its customers who were affected by the deadly weather system.

“Thank you for being patient while we did this quickly and safely in challenging conditions,” it said in a statement.

[22 October 2023 11:30 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: What fuelled the ‘extraordinary’ Storm Babet?

Experts said Babet is an “extraordinary” storm which has been fuelled by several factors, including the impact of a typhoon on jet stream and rising temperatures.

Stuti Mishra reports:

[22 October 2023 11:00 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: Storm Babet in pictures as two dead and town evacuated during red warning downpours

Here, Alexander Butler collates some pictures showing the scale of disruption and devastation caused by Storm Babet.

The worst of the storm is over, although flood warnings remain in place as water levels in river across the country stay at dangerous levels.

Up to nine people have died since Thursday while hundreds more have been forced out of their homes:

[22 October 2023 10:30 · Matt Mathers]

Trains and ferriers hit by disruption

Travel chaos caused by Storm Babet continues with major disruption on the railways and warnings not to travel on large parts of the network.

Six people have died after days of heavy rain sparked flooding, cutting off towns and villages and trapping people in their homes. Thousands of households have been hit by power cuts and the Environment Agency warned flooding could last for days, with hundreds of alerts still in place.

Simon Calder reports:

[22 October 2023 10:11 · Matt Mathers]

Breaking: Death toll rises to seven as woman found dead at home

A woman in her 80s has been found at a home in Chesterfield and her death is believed to be related to flooding in the area, Derbyshire Police said.

Officers were called shortly after 10.35am on Saturday to a flat in Tapton Terrace, Chesterfield, to reports of the sudden death of a woman.

Police, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue and East Midlands Ambulance Service attended the property and found the woman dead inside the flat.

The force said investigations were continuing into the cause of death but “it is believed it is related to the flooding seen in the Chesterfield area”.

Full report:

[22 October 2023 09:58 · Matt Mathers]

Aerial footage shows extent of river flooding in Scotland

Aerial footage shows the extent of river flooding in Scotland as a result of Storm Babet.

The footage was recorded from a helicopter and published by HM Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

“Communities across the UK have been badly hit by Storm Babet,” the agency said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“This was the result in Scotland  Please stay safe: don’t travel in affected areas and keep away from floods.”

[22 October 2023 09:40 · Matt Mathers]

Roads remain closed in Angus

A number of roads remain closed due to Storm Babet in Angus, east Scotland, which was subject to a rare red warning for rain on Saturday.

Residents there are being advised not to travel and stay at home following flooding in the area.

“Do not travel. Stay at home and stay safe. If you really think you need to get to work, please check with your boss,” the local council said on its website.

“Employers and managers: please consider your employees and the need for them to attend work.

“Police Scotland advice is not to travel unless absolutely essential. The fewer vehicles on the road, the safer everyone will be and the better access for emergency services.”

[22 October 2023 09:20 · Matt Mathers]

North Sea workers airlifted off rig after anchors come loose during Storm Babet

More than half the staff manning a North Sea drilling platform have been airlifted to other sites after several of its anchors came loose during Storm Babet.

Coastguard helicopters were called upon to move 45 non-essential workers from the Stena Spey to neighbouring platforms and to Sumburgh on the Shetland Islands on Saturday due to the incident.

Paul Cargill reports: