The Met Office has issued a ‘danger to life’ amber warning as the UK braces for torrential rain, flooding, and strong winds over the coming hours. The amber warning comes into place at 4pm and will stay in place untill 11.59pm tomorrow.
According to the National Weather Agency, severe weather conditions could bring large waves and throw beach material onto sea fronts, coastal roads, and nearby properties, creating hazardous situations. Transport networks may face significant disruption, with the possibility of roads, bridges, and railway lines closing, alongside delays or cancellations to bus, train, ferry, and flight services. Power cuts are also likely, which could affect other essential services such as mobile phone coverage. Buildings and homes may suffer damage, with risks of roofs being blown off and power lines brought down. In addition, flying debris poses a serious danger to life, underlining the potential severity of the storm’s impact, the Met Office warned.
The Met Office explained: “A short spell of very strong southwesterly winds are expected to develop as Storm Bram passes close to northwest Scotland on Tuesday evening and night. Gusts of 70-80 mph are expected for a few hours with a chance that a few places may experience gusts of up to 90 mph. Heavy rain will accompany these strong winds and may exacerbate impacts.”
It comes as the Irish Weather Services named Storm Bram as parts of the UK will experience unsettled conditions in the next few days.
Met Office Chief Forecaster, Dan Suri, said: “Storm Bram will bring a very wet and windy spell of weather, with very strong winds and further heavy rain which falling over saturated ground, could cause flooding impacts. Within the Amber wind warning over northwest Scotland, gusts of up to 90 mph could be recorded. More widely, gusts of 50-60 mph, and perhaps 70 mph in a few spots, are expected across Wales, southwest England and Northern Ireland.
“Rain is an additional impact from Storm Bram, with the possibility of 100mm over higher ground in the south of Wales and parts of Devon. This could require escalations to existing warnings, so it’s important to stay up to date with the forecast in your area, as well as any flood warnings from your local environment agency.”
