Storm Ashley latest: Public warned to ‘act now’ with 40 areas across UK on high alert over flooding
Met Office issues ‘danger to life warning’ and predicts damage to buildings, power cuts and travel disruption during Storm Ashley
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Injuries and danger to life are likely during the 80mph winds and rain hit parts of the UK in the first named storm of the season.
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for Storm Ashley in Northwest Scotland on Sunday, as well as a yellow warning for the entirety of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and parts of north-west England and Wales.
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings across the UK, urging the public to “act now”.
According to the agency’s website, there are 39 active flood warnings, which points to expected flooding, and 127 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.
The more severe amber warning will be in force from 9am on Sunday until midnight, and the yellow between 3am and midnight. A further warning for heavy rain in southwest England and south Wales is in force on Sunday morning, with up to 65mm expected.
Gusts of 80mph could hit northwest Scotland and “injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties”, the Met Office said.
Forecasters said to brace for power cuts, damage to buildings and disruption for people travelling by road, rail, air and ferry, including road and bridge closures.
‘Fallen debris and trees’ could impact commuters on Monday, forecaster warns
The continuation of powerful gale-force winds through to Monday morning means “fallen debris and trees” could impact commuters at the start of the week, Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said.
41 active flood warnings listed as Storm Ashley hits
According to the Environment Agency’s website, there are 41 active flood warnings, which points to expected flooding, and 132 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, according to the PA.
These warnings include areas of the River Severn, the south Cornwall coast, as well as the Wye Estuary.
Natural Resources Wales listed three flood warnings and 13 flood alerts, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency listed 16 flood warnings and 17 alerts.
Weather warnings in place for Scotland, Ireland, parts of England and Wales
The Met Office has predicted heavy rain and winds of up to 80mph in several parts of the UK and warned that the storm is “likely” to bring a threat of injuries and danger to life.
All of Scotland and Northern Ireland and parts of north-west England and Wales are under a yellow warning to last till at least midnight on Sunday.
The north-west of Scotland is under an amber warning from 9am until midnight, and the weather service has warned that there is risk of “injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties”.
What advice has the Met Office given?
As it warns of powerful winds reaching up to 80mph, the Met Office has advised people in affected areas to check and plan how to secure loose items outside their properties.
Forecasters also suggested preparing for potential power cuts by considering gathering torches and batteries, and urged people to keep up to date with the latest forecast.
Police Scotland urge drivers to avoid unnecessary journeys
Police Scotland have advised motorists to “plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel where possible” ahead of the “strong likelihood” of disruption on roads, while Transport Scotland has warned of likely delays to public transport, including the country’s ferry network.
Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland’s head of road policing, said: “Make sure your vehicle has sufficient fuel and is completely roadworthy, with tyre pressure and tread meeting legal requirements.
“Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged in the event you need to call for assistance and if it is likely you may be within your vehicle for long periods of time, take additional clothing and water with you.”
Temperatures in southern England to reach 17C despite ‘very blustery’ conditions
Despite the wet and windy weather brought by Storm Ashley, temperatures are expected to climb to highs of 17C in southern England on Sunday, Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said.
“The strongest winds are likely to come through during the course of tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “It is going to be quite a bright afternoon but it’s going to be very windy and gusty out there, especially in the north of the country so don’t be sort of lulled into a false sense of security.”
The “very strong, severe gales” on Sunday coincide with high spring tides, which could also result in “very large waves”, warned Mr Stroud.
Outside of the warning zones, the rest of the UK, including inland areas, will still feel the impact of Storm Ashley with “very blustery” conditions and rain moving across the south and east of England, he added.
Flooding expected in nearly 60 areas
The Environment Agency’s website is listing 41 active flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 132 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.
The warnings include multiple areas of the River Severn, the south Cornwall coast and the Wye Estuary.
In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 16 flood warnings and a further 17 alerts, as far afield as Stonehaven, Ayr and Grangemouth.
Some 13 alerts have been issued in Wales, eight of them on the country’s south coast and three on the west.
Mapped: Where and when are ‘danger to life’ weather warnings in force across UK?
Storm Ashley, the first named storm of the season will initially hit Ireland on Sunday morning, where warnings for strong winds are in force across seven counties, including Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Donegal.
It will then track northeastwards and reach the UK early on Sunday morning, according to the Met Office, bringing with it likely power cuts, damage to buildings and travel disruption. Dozens of flood warnings are also in place.
You can find more details on what to expect in this report:
Storm Ashley mapped: Where are weather warnings in force across the UK?
Met Office is warning of possible damage to homes, power cuts and disruption to travel by air, road, rail and ferry
New weather alert for heavy rain issued in southwest England and south Wales
A further yellow alert for heavy rain has been issued in south Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset between 3am and midday on Sunday.
Between 15 and 25mm of rain is expected to fall in most affected areas. However upslopes exposed to the strong southerly winds could see 35 to 45mm, while potentially as much as 65mm could fall on Dartmoor, the Met Office said.
BBC shipping forecast issues 30 gale warnings
The BBC shipping forecast has issued some 30 gale warnings for locations in the waters around Britain, including near the Hebrides, Dover, the Thames and the Irish Sea.
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