Storm Babet to Bring Heavy Rain
The formidable storm, the second of the season for Ireland and the UK, has already caused power outages in more than 1,000 properties and significant flooding in hundreds more. Meteorologists in the United States are warning that a potent storm named Babet will continue to bring substantial wind and rain to Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom through the weekend.
As of early Thursday afternoon local time, the storm was swirling near the southern UK, delivering pounding waves and flooding rainfall to various regions. Northeastern England and Scotland are anticipated to experience similar conditions and at least gale-force winds until Saturday.
Prior to Babet’s arrival, the second named storm of the season in the UK, the country’s Met Service issued a rare ‘red warning’ for heavy rainfall and severe wind. The storm has already led to flash flooding and disruptions in daily life in Ireland and southern England.
In Cork, the Republic’s second-largest city in the southern part of the country, images and videos showing significant flash flooding, including road damage caused by surging water, circulated on social media Wednesday morning. According to BBC News, hundreds of properties were affected by the flooding, and rescues were conducted using boats and canoes.
In response to the heavy rain and reported flooding, Met Éireann, Ireland’s official meteorological service, issued an ‘orange rain warning’ for several southern counties. Rainfall amounts exceeding 2 inches (50 mm) occurred in a very short period, leading to the flooding. Over 24 hours, up to 3.70 inches (94 mm) of rain was reported.
Storm Babet also caused rough seas and pounding waves along the UK coast, prompting the closure of some beaches. In Shaldon, England, a village on the southern coast, local officials closed the Strand and a nearby road due to instability. The seafront in Torquay was also closed as the storm battered the region.
In Cornwall, England’s southwesternmost county, power outages affected 1,600 properties earlier on Wednesday, according to Cornwall Live. Photos of waves crashing along the coastline were shared online. International forecasters warn of severe impacts for the northern UK from Thursday through Saturday as Storm Babet approaches from the south.
Before this, London and the rest of the interior central and southern UK, which will escape the worst impacts from the storm, will experience periods of rain and occasional gusty winds until early Saturday. The impacts are expected to intensify in the northern UK, especially in Scotland and northeastern England.
Forecasters anticipate flooding, water-covered roads, travel disruptions, and even structural damage in affected areas. Strong gusty winds, as Babet continues to strengthen, may also result in damage, particularly as its center of circulation emerges in the North Sea east of the UK late in the week.
Local experts said that winds could gust as high as 70 mph (110 km/h) and potentially even reach 80 mph (130 km/h). Winds of this magnitude could lead to downed trees, structural damage, and power outages.
In preparation for the anticipated heavy rain and damaging winds, officials in Scotland have ordered the evacuation of approximately 350 people in the town of Angus, according to The Telegraph. Hospitals, schools, and public transportation have been temporarily shut down.
Ireland and the UK are not the only nations expected to bear the brunt of Storm Babet. In combination with other storms in the region, rain and gusty winds are likely to affect the Low Countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, as well as parts of Germany and Italy, from Thursday night into Friday.
Additionally, snow is expected to fall in the Alpine mountains farther south in Europe. Conditions in the northwestern part of the continent are expected to improve by the end of the weekend, but more stormy weather may arrive next week as several more storms move in from the Atlantic Ocean.
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