Storm Dennis: Man dies in sea off Kent as Met Office issues new ‘high impact’ weather warning

Forecasters warn of flooding, damage and disruption for second weekend in a row

UK braces for more severe weather as Storm Dennis arrives

Storm Dennis was forecast to cause widespread disruption across the UK as the country battened down its hatches for the second stormy weekend in a row.

Multiple severe weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds were issued by the Met Office as deep floodwater threatened “danger to life”.

Flights were grounded for safety reasons, with British Airways and easyJet confirming cancellations. Passengers were advised to check their airline’s website for latest updates.

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Key Points

• British Airways and easyJet flights cancelled
• Military personnel to be deployed in West Yorkshire to help manage flood risk
• Storm Dennis could cause more damage than Storm Ciara
• Body found in search for man overboard in Kent coast
• Second body recovered from sea in Kent unrelated to Storm Dennis

[15 February 2020 17:00 · Tom Barnes]

Storm Dennis has reached Scotland, forcing ferry services and football games to be cancelled as rain, winds and flooding inundated the country.

An amber warning for rain is in place in southern parts of Scotland from midday to 8pm on Saturday, with a yellow wind and rain warning also in place until 9pm.

Gusts of up to 70 mph are expected at times, prompting a yellow wind warning to be put in place for the whole of Scotland between 10am on Sunday until 12pm on Monday.

Ferry firm CalMac cancelled all planned Sunday sailings between Fionnphort and Iona, as well as sailings between Illapool and Stornoway, Oban and Castlebay, Mallaig and Lochboisdale, and Oban to Lochboisdale.

Meanwhile, Scottish Premiership matches were called off, with one game being rescheduled to Sunday despite weather warnings remaining in place.

[15 February 2020 17:14 · Peter Stubley]

Here's what's in store as Storm Dennis batters the UK over the next two days, with gusts of wind reaching 70mph in places.

The worst of the weather is expected to move north towards Scotland on Sunday.

[15 February 2020 17:34 · Peter Stubley]

There are currently 35 flood warnings and 246 flood alerts in force across England, according to the Environment Agency.

In Scotland there are 38 flood warnings and in Wales there are six.

In Herefordshire the heavy rain has turned this road in Peterchurch into a fast-flowing river.

[15 February 2020 18:02 · Peter Stubley]

Fallen trees are adding to the travel chaos during Storm Dennis, causing road closures and blockages on rail lines.

[15 February 2020 18:18 · Peter Stubley]

Several rivers have already burst their banks, causing flooding across the UK.

[15 February 2020 19:01 · Peter Stubley]

Gusts of nearly 90mph have been recorded during Storm Dennis so far, according to the Met Office.

[15 February 2020 19:19 · Peter Stubley]

Some residents in Scotland have been advised to evacuate their homes, after the Scottish Environment and Protection Agency issued three severe flood warnings.

The warnings for "extensive flooding" cover Hawick and Newcastleton Village in the Scottish Borders.

[15 February 2020 20:19 · Peter Stubley]

In Herne Bay, Kent, police and emergency services have cordoned off a street after a roof collapsed.