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 04:00 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: More flooding feared after ‘unprecedented’ rainfall from Storm Babet

Communities in Scotland are braced for more flooding after Storm Babet brought “unprecedented” rainfall and a red warning was extended.

First Minister Humza Yousaf warned of continuing dangers as he paid tribute to two people who died.

Rescues took place throughout Friday as hundreds of houses were flooded after the River South Esk breached its banks.

Sarah Ward reports:

[22 October 2023 03:00 · Matt Mathers]

How the extreme weather is affecting trains, flights and ferry services

Trains, planes and ferries are being affected by Storm Babet – which, warns the Met Office, will bring “exceptional rainfall and impactful wind for some”.

Forecasters have issued a red warning for rain for parts of eastern Scotland, affecting Angus and Aberdeenshire. The warning is in force from 6pm on Thursday through to 12 noon on Friday. It is issued because of “a danger to life from flood water, extensive flooding to homes and businesses and severely disrupted travel conditions”.

Simon Calder reports:

[22 October 2023 02:00 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: Second person killed in Storm Babet as man dies in horror crash

Storm Babet has claimed a second life after a man died when his van was hit by falling tree in Scotland.

The tragedy happened in Angus, eastern Scotland, where a second red “danger to life” warning has been issued by the Met Office for Saturday. The region is already facing high winds, torrential rain and severe flooding.

Alex Ross reports:

[22 October 2023 01:00 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: Woman swept to her death in river as town evacuated and thousands left without power

A 57-year-old woman has died after being swept away in a river as a fierce storm batters parts of Scotland, bringing “unprecedented” downpours and forcing a whole town to evacuate during a rare red weather alert.

Thousands of homes were left without power or facing their properties being flooded during Storm Babet as the Scottish government warned residents in affected areas that the worst was yet to come.

Jane Dalton reports:

[22 October 2023 00:01 · Matt Mathers]

What is fueling the ‘extraordinary’ Storm Babet?

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

“Storm Babet is an extraordinary piece of weather caused by the interaction of a number of linked conditions across the world,” Dr Hannah Cloke, professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, said.

Full report:

[21 October 2023 23:52 · Andy Gregory]

Six lives lost in weather-related incidents during Storm Babet

Six people are now suspected to have died in weather-related incidents during Storm Babet, reports suggest.

Two women were killed in a crash on the M4 involving a lorry and four cars, according to the MailOnline, with a teenage driver was killed in another crash hours later.

It came after West Mercia Police said a man in his 60s had died in the storm after getting caught in fast-flowing floodwaters in Shropshire.

Two people were also killed in separate incidents in Angus, Scotland, including a 57-year-old woman who was swept into a river and 56-year-old John Gillan whose vehicle was hit by a tree.