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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Your support makes all the difference.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.”
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Strong winds and heavy rain to push through on Saturday morning
Heavy rain for Northern Ireland first thing on Saturday will then push across Wales and England, the Met Office has said.
Strong winds are expected to batter south west England and Wales.
Amber warning issued as Storm Antoni races towards UK
The Met Office has issued two amber weather warnings for wind for areas of south west England and Wales.
The warning is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.
Gusts of 40-50 mph are expected widely even inland, with a few spots peaking around 60 mph, while exposed coastal areas and hills could see gusts around 70 mph, the Met Office said.
Two yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for large swathes of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Wet and windy weather expected to loom over parts of the UK today
The Met Office has said heavy rain and strong winds are expected to bring disruption as Storm Antoni hits parts of the UK today.
An amber warning with the potential for damaging gusts of wind has been issued for some southwestern areas of both England and Wales between 11am and 7pm.
That followed a yellow warning for “unseasonably windy weather” to southern parts of the UK between 8am and 8pm.
There is also a yellow warning until 11am for unseasonably wet and windy conditions which may lead to some disruption in Northern Ireland.
Yellow warning issued for Northern Ireland
A yellow rain warning has come into effect for parts of Northern Ireland, the Met Office said today.
There’s a chance of possible flooding of homes and businesses, and surface water on roads.
Weather warning issued for England, Wales: ‘Fatal risk of injury'
A second warning issued across southwest England and much of Wales will be in place for 12 hours until 8pm.
The warning cautions that strong winds could potentially cause damage to buildings, with flying debris posing a potentially fatal risk of injury.
Road, rail, air and ferry services could be affected by the winds, with longer journey times and cancellations possible along with road and bridge closures, the Met Office said, warning that “injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties”.
Power cuts may also occur, with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage, forecasters said.
Weather warnings in force today due to Storm Antoni
The national forecaster warned that Storm Antoni could also bring winds of up to 50mph inland in parts of south Wales and southwest England, while heavy rains could flood homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.
“Unseasonably” strong winds and fast-flowing rainwater may disrupt air, rail, road and ferry travel, with the potential to put lives at risk as the low-pressure weather system moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists said.
Storm Antoni to bring ‘unseasonably strong’ winds today
Storm Antoni will bring “unseasonably strong” winds and heavy rain to the UK today, officials warned.
The storm, first to be named by the Met Office this season, hit the UK from late Friday night and will run into Saturday.
Officials from the Met Office have issued warning for rain and wind for Northern Ireland and parts of south-west Britain respectively.
While Northern Ireland will experience heavy rain from the early hours today, parts of Wales and south-west and coastal southern England will experience strong winds.
The storm would bring “potentially disruptive” weather as it moved from west to east, the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Steve Willington said.
“Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30mm more widely. Away from the warning area many will still see a very wet day, especially in north Wales and north England,” he added.
ICYMI: Storm Antoni forces cancellation of outdoor events across the weekend
The weather has also forced organisers of outdoor events scheduled to take place this weekend to cancel their plans.
Eliot Walker, organiser of the annual Dorset jazz festival, Stompin’ on the Quomps, said he was “disappointed” he had to postpone this year’s event due to Storm Antoni. The free festival in Christchurch Quay was forced to cancel its activities for the first time in its 30-year history.
Mr Walker, 44, said: “We’re really disappointed that the town can’t come together to enjoy a wonderful day listening to professional jazz and big bands by the side of the river on the picturesque quay.”
Around 10,000 people had been expected to attend on Saturday. The decision to cancel the festival was driven by concerns for the safety of traders and spectators, as gusts of up to 60mph are predicted.
Mr Walker added: “We always keep an eye on the weather for the months leading up to the events just to get a general idea, and the closer we get, the more accurate and consistent the weather forecasts tend to be.
“But on Wednesday, we were still seeing gusts of wind to 47mph, which is quite extreme for Christchurch. And it was at that point we wanted to give our traders and bands enough time to know that they weren’t going to be performing.
“Christchurch Quay is a popular location for events. We are talking to Christchurch Town Council and trying to find available dates in either August or September to move the festival to.”
ICYMI: UK weather warnings: Met Office issues ‘Danger to life’ alert over Storm Antoni 65mph winds
The first Met Office-named storm of the year will hit the UK this weekend with gusts of up to 65mph expected to batter the coastlines and disrupt travel, with heavy rain posing a “danger to life”.
The national forecaster warned that Storm Antoni could also bring winds of up to 50mph inland in parts of south Wales and southwest England, while heavy rains could flood homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.
Andy Gregory reports:
‘Danger to life’ warnings as first Met Office-named storm of year to hit UK
Strong winds and rain could cause dangerous flooding, with debris from damaged buildings bringing potentially fatal risk of injurings, forecasters warn
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