Urgent double weather warning for Somerset as massive disruption forecast
An urgent weather warning has been issued parts of Somerset as the region is expected to be buffeted by strong winds and rain - which could cause damage and disruption. Although today will see generally drier conditions, the wind and rain will move in from the South West tomorrow - with a double weather warning for parts of the county.
Coastal areas in Devon & Cornwall, as well as parts of Somerset, are covered by the wind warning which is in place from 9am on Sunday until 11.59pm. The warning covers the north eastern area of Somerset, including Minehead, Bridgwater and Weston-super-Mare.
The yellow warning for wind issued for the West Country and parts of Wales says that winds will strengthen from west to east during Sunday, with gusts of 50-55mph likely in places, exceeding 60mph in the most exposed areas. The Exeter based Met Office said this will be accompanied by outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, which could lead to some surface water and spray on roads.
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And it comes as a second weather warning for rain has also been issued. The warning, which covers the whole of the county, is in place from 4pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday. Further heavy rain is likely to cause some travel delays and flooding on Sunday evening and night, the warning says.
There is a greater than 95 per cent chance of heavy rain from around 3pm on Sunday lasting all the way until 1am on Monday - with a 90 per cent chance of heavy rain until 7am.
The Met Office said it is likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves and has forecast delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport. It also said there is a probability bus and train services, and even ferries, will be affected, with some journeys taking longer, delays could be caused for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges and there could even be short term loss of power and other services.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said: “Sunday will bring a return to wet and windy weather across the southern half of the UK. A warning for rain has been issued for southwestern England and south Wales from 1600 on Sunday through to Monday morning. Within the warning area 20-30mm of rain is expected quite widely, with up to 50-80mm possible over the higher ground of Dartmoor, south Wales and the Dorset Downs.
“A Yellow warning for wind has also been issued from 0900 to midnight on Sunday. The area covers the far southwest of England and western Wales. Gusts of 50-55mph are likely within the Yellow warning area, up to 60mph is possible in the most exposed coasts and areas of higher ground."
After the further rain on Monday, which could extend into Tuesday in some eastern and southeastern areas, it should become somewhat drier and brighter more widely around midweek. However, there are signals for the potential of further wet and windy weather towards the end of next week.
There has been some speculation about the impact of Hurricane Isaac on the UK weather next week. Hurricane Isaac is expected to transition into an ex-tropical storm through Sunday night and into Monday while over the middle of the Atlantic. If it does move towards the UK it will have significantly weakened and would bring nothing more than a normal autumn spell of rain.
The winds will gradually ease across Wales and inland parts of the South West through Sunday evening and night, but it may remain fairly windy along some coasts of southern and south-western England during Sunday night.
This week, many areas across England suffered heavy rain and localised flooding, with commuters facing widespread disruption on road and rail services. An amber rain warning issued by the Met Office for areas of the Midlands and the south of the country and a separate yellow rain warning for large parts of England and Wales both ended on Friday.
According to the Met Office, some counties in southern and central England have already had more than 250% of their average September rainfall. Parts of the country had more than the monthly average rainfall on Monday and there were further downpours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
About 650 properties were flooded in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the home counties, according to the Environment Agency, which estimated around 8,200 properties had been protected. Earlier areas affected by the amber rain warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, were hit by flash floods as the Met Office said the regions could have 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours.
Rail services between Shrewsbury in Shropshire and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands were cancelled on Friday after severe flooding at Wellington station and a tree on the line earlier. The pitch at the SEAH Stadium in Wellington, home to Telford United football club, was completely flooded on Thursday evening.
Trains between Peterborough in the East Midlands and London King’s Cross were delayed because of flooding. The Marston Vale line in Bedfordshire, which operates services between Bedford and Bletchley, is suspended until Monday because of standing water on the track.
National Highways said the M5 in Gloucestershire was closed northbound between junctions 16 and 14 because of flooding. The motorway had reopened southbound between junctions 14 and 15, but hour-long delays and up to four miles of congestion continued both ways.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service previously said it was working with National Highways South West to rescue people stranded on the M5 in Gloucestershire.