Storm Antoni - live: Met Office upgrades ‘danger to life’ warnings as flooding sees evacuations
Weather warning in place from 11am to 7pm for south west England and Wales
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The Met Office has upgraded weather warnings to amber as eight people have been evacuated from their flooded Dublin homes.
The first named storm of the year, Storm Antoni moved eastwards in Ireland as heavy rains poured down overnight into this morning.
In England and Wales, an amber warning for wind is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
The Met Office warned “flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life”.
Two yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for large swathes of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “Storm Antoni will bring some potentially disruptive weather on Saturday as it moves from west to east.
“Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30 more widely.”
Disbelief as Dublin homes hit by flooding after heavy rainfall
Homeowners expressed disbelief after more than a dozen homes in north Dublin were hit by flash flooding, as Storm Antoni swept across the region.
People were seen assessing the damage to their homes and airing cars that had been parked in driveways, as relatives arrived to offer support.
But residents at the Castle Court Estate questioned whether drainage had an impact on the severity of the flooding, described as a “deluge” by one homeowner, who did not want to be named.
“It was like a tsunami, it just came in (at 9 o’clock), we’d no time to protect ourselves. (We) looked out the window, it was up to your ankle, next thing you know it was up to your knee,” she said.
“We tried to save a few things, like photographs. But we couldn’t save most of the stuff.”
Full story here:
Disbelief as Dublin homes hit by flooding after heavy rainfall
Eight people were evacuated from their homes using inflatable rescue sleds and one person was taken to hospital.
‘Strongest winds easing’ as per latest Met Office update
According to the Met Office’s latest update, Storm Antoni will start to clear away to the southeast as the strongest winds begin to ease during the second-half of Saturday.
Met Office gives verdict on whether heatwave will hit Britain this month
As the UK braces for another weekend of miserable weather during Storm Antoni, the Met Office has given its verdict on whether a heatwave will hit Britain this month.
The first storm of the year will see gusts of up to 65mph batter coastlines from Friday evening onwards, with winds of up to 50mph inland due in parts of south Wales and southwest England, leaving Britons longing for the summer sun to return.
According to the weather service, unseasonably wet and windy conditions are likely to continue for another two weeks, before the sun shines on Britons’ summer plans.
Full story here:
Met Office gives verdict on whether heatwave will hit UK this month
Storm Antoni will see gusts of up to 65mph batter coastlines from Friday evening onwards
Evacuations in North Yorkshire as heavy rains cause flooding
A number of people have been evacuated from their homes in North Yorkshire due to flooding after heavy rain.
Cleveland Police said residents in Loftus and Carlin How were evacuated and the fire service and local authority are supporting those affected.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Cleveland Police are asking people in those areas not to take any risks, such as driving to the home of relatives, or making unnecessary journeys.”
Weather won’t stop us celebrating Brighton and Hove pride, organisers say
The weather “won’t be stopping us”, organisers have said, as Brighton and Hove Pride parade gets under way amid wet and rainy conditions.
Revellers turned out to cheer on the much-celebrated Pride event along the seafront, despite yellow weather warnings from the Met Office.
Saturday’s parade was expected to draw 300,000 people to the city’s streets, among them community groups, small businesses and NHS services, as they march to the official Pride community fundraiser Fabuloso in the Park at Preston Park.
Brighton Pride’s managing director Paul Kemp said: “We’ve encouraged people to wear ponchos so it might be a little bit Glastonbury.
“That wouldn’t stop us from having a great celebration and a great Pride in our city.”
The annual celebration is the city’s largest single event, expected to boost the economy by more than £20m over the weekend.
However Govia Thameslink Railway will not be running any trains between London and Brighton on Saturday, blaming an overtime ban by the drivers’ union Aslef.
Mr Kemp said organisers were disappointed a compromise could not be found, explaining it will “affect turnout”.
“I’m sorry for people who booked hotels and paid for accommodation and now can’t get in,” he continued.
However he said it “won’t derail us” and “the show goes on”.
Waves crash against Dorset shore as danger to life warning issued amid Storm Antoni
Waves crashed against the shore in Portland, Dorset, as the Met Office issued a danger to life warning after Storm Antoni hit the UK on Saturday, 5 August.
An amber warning, which indicates flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life, is in place for southwestern areas of both England and Wales until 7pm.
A yellow warning for “unseasonably windy weather” has been issued for southern parts of the UK until 8pm, warning that “injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.”
Waves crash against Dorset shore as danger to life warning issued amid Storm Antoni
Waves crashed against the shore in Portland, Dorset, as the Met Office issued a danger to life warning after Storm Antoni hit the UK on Saturday, 5 August. An amber warning, which indicates flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life, is in place for southwestern areas of both England and Wales until 7pm. A yellow warning for “unseasonably windy weather” has been issued for southern parts of the UK until 8pm, warning that "injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties."
Watch: Brighton Pride celebrations in full swing despite Storm Antoni winds
Storm Antoni moves east in the afternoon
The storm is heading eastwards this afternoon as winds and heavy rainfall picks up.
Eight people evacuated from Dublin homes after heavy rain causes floods
Eight people have been evacuated from their Dublin homes after spot flooding caused by heavy rainfall overnight.
One person has been brought to hospital, Dublin Fire Brigade said in a statement.
Forecaster Met Eireann had issued several warnings for heavy rain and strong winds as Storm Antoni moved eastwards across Ireland.
Firefighters attended the scene of flooding at the Castle Court Estate, off the Howth Road in Clontarf, on Saturday morning after multiple 999 calls were made.
Eight people were evacuated by water-trained firefighters using inflatable rescue sleds to help people leave their homes safely.
“Operations are ongoing at the incident and firefighters from North Strand and Phibsborough fire stations are working with Dublin City Council crews alongside ESB network technicians,” it said in a statement.
“An apartment block basement remains flooded following the heavy rain overnight.”
In pictures: Storm Antoni hammers down
Fallen trees and windswept racegoers are among the victims of Storm Antoni so far today, as the Met Office has issued several yellow and amber weather warnings across the UK.
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