Storm Betty hammers country with heavy rain and strong winds
Betty batters Britain: Storm hammers country with heavy rain and strong winds as Met Office warns of floods and says people may die as massive waves crash onto sea fronts
- Warnings for heavy rain and strong winds in force until around noon today
- Risk of injuries and danger to life from large waves and material thrown by wind
Warnings for heavy rain and strong winds remain in force across parts of the UK after Storm Betty brought wet and windy weather as the Met Office has warned of floods and said people may die.
Many areas saw heavy downpours and gusts of wind on Friday with the arrival of the second named storm in August.
A warning for strong winds remains in force until around noon on Saturday for western parts of England and Wales as well as the eastern area of Northern Ireland.
The Met Office said there could be a risk of injuries and danger to life from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
Gusts of wind may also cause damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, and travel could be affected.
The Met Office said there could be a risk of injuries and danger to life from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties (pictured here in Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland, yesterday)
A warning for strong winds remains in force until around noon on Saturday for western parts of England and Wales as well as the eastern area of Northern Ireland (pictured: a boat after it crashed into the harbour yesterday in Dungarvan, County Waterford)
A weather warning for rain is also in place until noon on Saturday for Central Scotland, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, south-west Scotland, Lothian Borders and Strathclyde (pictured: a woman bracing the rain in Whitstable, Kent, yesterday)
There remains a potential for power cuts and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.
The highest wind gusts recorded overnight by the Met Office were particularly strong around the Irish Sea.
In Capel Curig and Aberdaron, both in Gynedd, gusts reached 66mph and 61mph respectively.
In Pemprey Sands, Dyfed, they reached 59mph, while in Ronaldsway, on the Isle of Man, winds of 54mph blew.
53mph were reached in Orlock Head, County Down, and St. Bees Head, Cumbria, overnight.
Gusts of wind may also cause damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, and travel could be affected
The weather warnings from the Met Office are in place until noon today
Strong and gusty south-easterly winds will accompany the rain, with gusts perhaps as high as 40mph around some exposed coasts and hills in the east
The Met Office said flooding of some homes and businesses is possible and travel could be affected with spray and flooding on roads.
A weather warning for rain is also in place until noon on Saturday for Central Scotland, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, south-west Scotland, Lothian Borders and Strathclyde.
The highest rainfall totals are expected over east-facing high ground in the Angus Hills and the Grampian Mountains where between 40-60mm could accumulate.
Strong and gusty south-easterly winds will accompany the rain, with gusts perhaps as high as 40mph around some exposed coasts and hills in the east.
‘Take care if you are beginning any journeys this morning and stay up to date with the latest.
Shoppers braced the rain in Whitstable, Kent, yesterday as heavy rain and thunderstorms were expected across the UK
This woman braved the waves whipped up by high winds at Southwold Beach in Suffolk yesterday morning ahead of predicted torrential rain and thunder showers
Met Office chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said the storm had been expected to have the most impact in Ireland and many reported a restless night as homes were battered by wind and rain.
The Met Office updated via Twitter: ‘Storm Betty has been pushing northwards through the early hours with continued heavy rain and strong winds.
‘Warnings are in force until 12:00 today.’
Betty is the second storm named in August, following Storm Antoni which occurred earlier this month.
This is the second time since storm naming was introduced in 2015 that two storms have been named in August, following Ellen and Francis in August 2020.
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