UK braces for Storm Ciarán: High alert for heavy rain and flooding
Storm Ciarán approaches. Flood warnings have been issued across several regions in England, Scotland, and Wales, with additional amber rain warnings in effect for Northern Ireland.
Storm Ciarán is set to make landfall on Thursday and is expected to bring with it strong winds and heavy rainfall, will affect parts of southern England and Wales.
This new storm comes on the heels of the recent flooding event that occurred over a number of areas in the UK.
Forecasters have raised concerns about the risk of flooding due to the saturated ground conditions caused by persistent wet weather.
The Met Office has issued amber rain warnings for Northern Ireland, signifying a significant risk of flooding and potential disruptions. These warnings encompass parts of counties Antrim, Down, and Armagh, commencing at 21:00 GMT on Monday.
The Environment Agency has advised the public to exercise caution along coastal paths and promenades.
Furthermore, they strongly discouraged driving through floodwater, highlighting that as little as 30cm (12 inches) of flowing water can move a car.
BBC Weather's lead presenter, Simon King, has cautioned that Storm Ciarán carries the risk of further flooding in certain areas. He stated, «Stormy conditions are initially likely across southern England and the Channel Isles early on Thursday with damaging gusts of wind up to 80mph, perhaps even 90mph in the most exposed areas.
Heavy rain will then spread north and east through the day.»
Chris Almond, the Met Office's deputy chief meteorologist, indicated that winds could gust up to 50 or 60 mph further inland. A deep, low-pressure system is expected to bring heavy rain across the UK, with the heaviest rainfall anticipated in southern and western areas.
