Storm Antoni: Homes are evacuated as floods batter the UK
Storm Antoni sparks flooding chaos: Homes are evacuated and cars are deluged as torrential rain and 78mph gusts of wind batter the isles after Met Office’s ‘danger to life’ warning
Storm Antoni continued to spark chaos throughout the UK on Saturday evening, forcing homes to be evacuated amid torrential rain and raging gusts of wind.
The Met Office issued an amber weather warning, indicating flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life, which is in place for southwestern areas of both England and Wales until 7pm.
The torrential downpours forced homes in some areas of the UK and Ireland to be evacuated, while the isles were battered by gusts of wind, which reached up to 78mph in Berry Head, Devon.
A number of people have been evacuated from their homes in North Yorkshire due to the flooding after heavy rain, while pictures showed cars deluged by the floods.
Cleveland Police said residents in Loftus and Carlin How were evacuated and the fire service and local authority are supporting those affected.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Cleveland Police are asking people in those areas not to take any risks, such as driving to the home of relatives, or making unnecessary journeys.’
A sudden downpour in Wells, Somerset on Saturday afternoon caught out motorists and pedestrians
Pictures show the heavy flooding in Easington, Teeside as a street turned into a river
Flood alerts remain in place for parts of London, East Anglia and Yorkshire.
Ponchos were a must for walking along the seafront amid heavy rain in Brighton on Saturday
People were forced to cower as a huge wave hit the seawall in Brighton
The waves were so rough in Brighton that one person even attempted to surf next to the stormy Palace Pier
Flooding in Saltburn showed cars struggle to make it through a large puddle that had formed
Houses in East Cleveland were waterlogged as the area was hit by flooding so intense some residents had to evacuate their homes
One man who has lived in Cleveland for 18 years, Paul Jones King, shared his frustration at the flooding on Twitter as water has severely flooded his village street.
He told MailOnline: ‘This is the second time we’ve flooded in the last three years. We’re sat having a cup of coffee and in the space of three minutes the water is coming up.’
Meanwhile in Needham Market, Suffolk, residents expressed their terror at being trapped in their homes.
Andy Goodchild said: ‘Storm Antoni has left us in Needham Market unable to get out of our homes and floodwater is rising…
‘Let’s pray nobody needs an ambulance tonight.’
He shared images on Twitter of murky floodwater coming up his path right to his door.
Eight people were evacuated from their homes in Clontarf, Dublin, due to flooding, Dublin Fire Brigade said.
Meanwhile flood alerts remain in place for parts of London, East Anglia and Yorkshire.
Storm Antoni is the first storm that has been serious enough to be named since February last year and has forced Brits to batten down the hatches amid warnings for gale force winds and flooding.
Residents in Needham Market, Suffolk, were left in terror of being trapped in their homes
People are seen in central London wearing plastic ponchos and holding umbrellas
Further down the coast in Porthleven, Cornwall, rolling waves batters the coastal town
The weather has led to treacherous driving conditions on the M11 near Cambridge on Saturday as Storm Antoni hits the country
The wild weather has wreaked havoc for Moto GP racers in Silverstone after causing one driver to fly off his bike
Pride participants struggling in the weather while holding a rainbow flag, as they take part in a parade during the annual International Pride Festival
For many up and down the country, summer seems to be a distant memory as temperatures struggled to climb above 17C.
The weather has also forced the cancellation of a series of events across the country, including the annual Dorset jazz festival and the Chale Show on the Isle of Wight.
And in Gwynedd, north Wales, three people have been rescued from the sea after strong gusts of wind caused them to be swept out by huge waves.
One person was reportedly taken to hospital after a lifeboat raced to rescue the group.
A yellow warning for ‘unseasonably windy weather’ is also in place for southern parts of the UK until 8pm and a yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued until 10pm for south east England and East Anglia.
And a yellow rain warning has been issued until 4pm on Saturday covering south east Scotland.
The wild weather has wreaked havoc for Moto GP racers in Silverstone after causing one driver to fly off his bike, while in Brighton, crowds braved the downpours to celebrate the coastal city’s Pride event – the biggest of its kind in the UK.
Some roads and bridges are likely to close, and the Met Office have warned of power cuts and mobile phone outages
Members of the public brave the rain in Leicester Square, central London
Ponchos are the order of the day as celebrants make sure the furious weather does not ruin their time
It was a very cloudy and stormy day in Brighton – but people made it to the beach in spite of the weather
One man who has lived in Cleveland for 18 years, Paul Jones King, shared his frustration at the flooding on Twitter as water has severely flooded his village street
He told MailOnline: ‘This is the second time we’ve flooded in the last three years. We’re sat having a cup of coffee and in the space of three minutes the water is coming up’
Cleveland Police said residents in Loftus and Carlin How were evacuated and the fire service and local authority are supporting those affected
Some roads and bridges are likely to close, the Met Office warning says, and ‘there is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage’.
Falling trees, riptides and inadequate building structures are some of the dangers people should look out for on Saturday during the amber wind warning, the Met Office said.
The Met Office warned of ‘injuries and danger to life’ from ‘flying debris’ and ‘large waves and beach material’ being thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads and homes.
There could be damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs – while those travelling by road, rail, air and ferry services could face disruption and cancellations.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said the storm, which is the first to be named by the Met Office this season, could see winds of up to 70mph on the coast and 60mph inland.
He said: ‘Storm Antoni is now tracking east into the Irish Sea and will continue to move east across England and Wales.
‘With it being the holiday season and it being a Saturday there will be plenty of local events going on, (Storm Antoni) wouldn’t necessarily bring the same level of impact if it was in the winter.
‘For August this is very unusual. Effectively the trees are in full leaf so are more susceptible to strong winds. Building structures, trees and temporary structures such as marquees may not well be too adequate.
‘Beach debris could be thrown from waves onto coastal roads, there’s a risk of dangerous tides, riptides and power cuts. Most travel disruption will be from (fallen) trees and branches.’
A member of the public sheltering with an umbrella from a torrential downpour under a chestnut tree on Wimbledon Common, south west London
Dog walkers brave the wet weather and strong winds on Carne beach in Cornwall
People are in Brighton for the UK’s biggest pride event have been battered by the storm along the seafront
The first storm to be named this season – heavy rain is expected to batter the nation as clouds sweep from west to east
An amber weather warning for winds breaking 60mph has been issued by the Met Office in areas of southwest Wales and southwest England between 11am and 7pm
The dramatic weather in Brighton has not dampened spirits as people brave the wind in dramatic costumes
Others grin in dressed-up umbrellas as they try to shelter their costumes for the grand parade
Two carry bravely carry their flags through the rain and wind to the parade as they get ready to march
And others make sure their weather-gear is on brand – with rainbow crocs and a glamorous umbrella
The march got underway despite marchers looking sodden – as attendees braved the soggy conditions to take part in the city’s Pride celebrations
During a MotoGP race in Silverstone, competition leader Francesco Bagnaia flew off his bike at 180mph as a result of the slippery surface that has been battered by rain.
The crash happened during the qualifying stages of the British GP that saw the racer scrambling in the gravel to get back in the race after coming off his bike.
Reigning champion Bagnaia lost control at the Brooklands corner – which went on to claim three more drivers throughout the race.
The Ducatti driver skidded off with just six minutes to go – but still managed to secure himself a stunning fourth on the grid in treacherous conditions.
Marco Bezzecchi also crashed out during qualifying at the same Brooklands corner – in a spectacular incident that saw him skidding across the track and his bike flying into the air.
But the Italian still managed to top the timing charts, beating out Australian Jack Miller by less than three tenths of a second.
In Brighton, crowds have braved the wild weather to celebrate the coastal city’s Pride event – the biggest of its kind in the UK.
With a line-up including Steps and Melanie C, dedicated attendants in elaborate outfits are pushing through the elements to celebrate the event.
Reigning champion Bagnaia (pictured front) lost control at the Brooklands corner – which went on to claim three more drivers throughout the race
Marco Bezzecchi also crashed out during qualifying at the same Brooklands corner
The spectacular incident saw him skidding across the track and his bike flying into the air
But the Italian still managed to top the timing charts, beating out Australian Jack Miller by less than three tenths of a second
Pictures show participants struggling in the weather while holding a rainbow flag, as they take part in a parade during the annual International Pride Festival.
Saturday’s parade was expected to draw 300,000 people to the city’s streets, among them community groups, small businesses and NHS services, as they march to the official Pride community fundraiser Fabuloso in the Park at Preston Park.
Brighton Pride’s managing director Paul Kemp said: ‘We’ve encouraged people to wear ponchos so it might be a little bit Glastonbury.
‘That wouldn’t stop us from having a great celebration and a great Pride in our city.’
The annual celebration is the city’s largest single event, expected to boost the economy by more than £20 million over the weekend.
However Govia Thameslink Railway will not be running any trains between London and Brighton on Saturday, blaming an overtime ban by the drivers’ union Aslef.
Mr Kemp said organisers were disappointed a compromise could not be found.
He said: ‘It will affect turnout absolutely because people will be cut off from the rest of the country.
‘I’m sorry for people who booked hotels and paid for accommodation and now can’t get in.’
However he said it ‘won’t derail us’ and ‘the show goes on’.
Some Brighton celebrants took no risks when they dressed for the weather – as one hides within their poncho
Eddie Izzard was pictured attending Brighton Pride Parade in the rain with other participants
One man’s outfit was not built for the weather – as he battles to stop his rainbow wings taking flight in the wind
One man looks contented as his flag-cape flies out behind him in the coastal storm
One attendee – in a metalic rainbow cap – watches on as an open-top bus passes by the gathered crowds
Another Pride celebrant embraces the weather – striking a pose with their inside-out umbrella
Others battle wrestle with a giant pride banner to make sure it is not blown away into the sky
Jamie Sanders, 36, travelled from Hastings, East Sussex, as one of the organisers for Sainsbury’s parade group.
While he was able to book a hotel overnight, out of 100 colleagues expecting to take part in the company’s parade, only 60 were able to make it due to the travel disruption.
But he said the ‘buses were brilliant’, picking people up across other locations to help them get there.
Also travelling down from London, Leo Gonzales and his friends drove down from the capital this morning in what he described as a ‘quite smooth’ journey.
‘It’s so friendly, like a family, the community is very engaging and inclusive.’
This year’s event, with the theme Dare To Be Different, marks the 50th anniversary of the first Brighton Pride march, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front in July 1973.
Mr Kemp said: ‘Those early pioneers 50 years ago who put their head above the parapet in different times, it was a very different environment for LGBT people at that time.
‘We’re recognising the trailblazers around the city, we have lamp posts around the city of people who have been part of the movement and are current trailblazers. We’re celebrating being different.’
In Newcastle tens of thousands of music lovers have been left devastated after a festival was cancelled at the last minute due to torrential rain
Just after the gates were due to open at midday today and with punters turning up at the city’s Town Moor, organisers announced it had been axed as organisers said it was ‘not safe’
Some music fans had paid more than £110 for weekend tickets to see a line up which included Joel Correy, Chase & Status, Sean Paul, Jax Jones, Tinie and the Artful Dodger
Katie Price’s son Jordan Andre and Craig David were set to perform at LooseFest after around 60,000 revellers were expected at the event
Just a few hours before the festival was set to kick off PRs were still publicising it on social media
He said that while Pride is about celebration it is also about protest and in the UK ‘we’re standing by our trans siblings’.
He added: ‘There’s a feeling from the LGBT community we’re being slightly politicised for political reasons, when people really should be focused on the real issues like the environment, cost of living, the things that really affect lives.’
In Ireland, residents were evacuated from their homes due to flooding.
Homeowners expressed disbelief after more than a dozen homes in north Dublin were hit by flash flooding on Saturday.
Eight people were evacuated from their homes using inflatable rescue sleds and one person was taken to hospital, Dublin Fire Brigade said, after several 999 calls were received on Saturday.
An underground car park at a block of flats on the same road as the houses was also flooded, where about 15 cars were thought to be parked underneath.
Water appeared to still be up to the ceiling of the basement later on Saturday, as Dublin Fire Brigade and Dublin City Council continued to pump the water out.
People were seen assessing the damage to their homes and airing cars that had been parked in driveways, as relatives arrived to offer support.
One homeowner, who did not want to be named, described her shock at the severity of the flooding.
She said: ‘It was like a tsunami, it just came in (at 9 o’clock), we’d no time to protect ourselves. (We) looked out the window, it was up to your ankle, next thing you know it was up to your knee.
‘We tried to save a few things, like photographs. But we couldn’t save most of the stuff.’
But in Newcastle tens of thousands of music lovers have been left devastated after a festival was cancelled at the last minute due to torrential rain.
Katie Price’s son Jordan Andre and Craig David were set to perform at LooseFest after around 60,000 revellers were expected at the event.
But just after the gates were due to open at midday today and with punters turning up at the city’s Town Moor, organisers announced it had been axed as organisers said it was ‘not safe’.
Posting on Facebook, a spokesperson said: ‘We deeply regret to announce that despite previous weather assurances and the best efforts by our festival and site team, we have been advised by the safety team and local authorities are in agreement that the festival site is not safe to open.
‘With more heavy rain due over the weekend unfortunately we have been instructed that it will be a full festival cancellation.
Crashing waves in Dorset show the full force of the stunning storms as they hit the British coast
Racegoers shelter from the rain as they arrive for day five of the Qatar Goodwood Festival
Others double up on ponchos and umbrellas as they try to protect their frocks
Crowds hide under umbrellas as they arrive in their finery to the glamorous event at Goodwood Racecourse
One man was left unable to protect himself properly from the rain as wind blew his umbrella inside out
Others shielded themselves in ponchos as they passed the ‘glorious Goodwood’ sign
A woman finds safety inside her see-through umbrella as people battle with heavy rain in Reading
A woman grabs her coffee and braves the streets as she faces driving rain near Reading station
A man wheels his bike through Reading as he looks resigned to the grimy weather
‘We appreciate this is absolutely devastating news. The safety of you guys, our artists and crew is priority as these shows and they cannot happen with out you!’
Eight people evacuated from their homes in Dublin
Eight people have been evacuated from their Dublin homes after spot flooding hit parts of the country overnight, following heavy rainfall in parts of the country.
One person has been brought to hospital, Dublin Fire Brigade said in a statement.
Forecaster Met Eireann had issued several warnings for heavy rain and strong winds as Storm Antoni moved eastwards across Ireland.
Firefighters attended the scene of flooding in residential areas in Clontarf on Saturday morning, with water-trained firefighters offering the use of inflatable rafts to help people leave their homes safely.
‘Operations are ongoing at the incident and firefighters from North Strand and Phibsborough fire stations are working with Dublin City Council crews alongside ESB network technicians,’ it said in a statement.
‘An apartment block basement remains flooded following the heavy rain overnight.’
Met Eireann had issued a Status Yellow rain warning for counties Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and Wicklow that was in place overnight until 11am on Saturday.
There were also several power outages across the country, with hundreds of people in Carrigaline and Crosshaven in Co Cork left without power on Saturday morning.
A wind warning was also in place for several counties, including Dublin, with a risk of falling branches and difficult travelling conditions.
A Status Yellow wind warning remains in place for nine counties, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and all Munster counties, until 1pm on Saturday, with a risk of gusts reaching up to 110km/hr.
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Some music fans had paid more than £110 for weekend tickets to see a line up which included Joel Correy, Chase & Status, Sean Paul, Jax Jones, Tinie and the Artful Dodger.
The RAC’s Rod Dennis warned: ‘We expect Saturday to be the worst day on the roads of the summer so far, especially for anyone in the south-west of England – and that’s a lot of people as our research shows it’s the most popular part of the country for leisure trips by car this year.
‘Conditions will be atrocious with a wholly unpleasant mix of very strong winds and locally intense rainfall. The best advice is to slow down significantly to stay safe and avoid exposed moorland and coastal routes until the storm passes.
‘Drivers towing caravans and trailers need to be particularly careful in these conditions and those with boxes and bikes on the roof should double-check they’re secured properly.
‘Drivers should also watch out for fallen trees and be prepared for the disruption they cause.’
He added that the RAC estimates that around four million cars will be using the roads for leisure journeys across the whole weekend.
Yesterday, Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington said: ‘Storm Antoni will bring some potentially disruptive weather on Saturday as it moves from west to east.
‘Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30mm more widely.
‘Away from the warning area many will still see a very wet day, especially in north Wales and north England.
‘Storm Antoni will also bring strong winds to a swathe of Wales, southwest England and southern coastal areas of England.
‘The strongest winds will affect parts southwest England and southwest Wales where exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts in excess of 60mph.
‘In these areas, gusts inland could reach 50-55mph for a time. These windy conditions will likely coincide with high tides which will present an additional challenge for coastal areas.
‘Busy travel networks at this time of year and the possibility of people having made plans to be outside have resulted in the system meeting our criteria for naming, with a strong chance of disruption for those within the warning areas.’
The weather has also forced organisers of outdoor events scheduled to take place this weekend to cancel their plans.
In Manchester fans take the chance to play a couple of overs in their ponchos as The Hundred match between Manchester Originals Women and London Spirit Women is delayed by rain
In Tynemouth, North Tyneside, the storm provided beach-weather for some as one brave person decided it was sunny enough for shorts
Others wrapped up to brave the rain and wind and headed down to the stormy sea
Waves can be seen lashing the beach but dedicated dog walkers took their pups out for a run in the fresh air
Eliot Walker, organiser of the annual Dorset jazz festival, Stompin’ on the Quomps, said he was ‘disappointed’ he had to postpone this year’s event due to Storm Antoni. The free festival in Christchurch Quay was forced to cancel its activities for the first time in its 30-year history.
Mr Walker, 44, said: ‘We’re really disappointed that the town can’t come together to enjoy a wonderful day listening to professional jazz and big bands by the side of the river on the picturesque quay.’
Around 10,000 people had been expected to attend on Saturday. The decision was driven by concerns for the safety of traders and spectators although it is hoped the festival can be rearranged.
It comes as the country hoped to turn a new leaf on Britain’s sixth-ever wettest July after the country was battered by downpours.
A succession of low pressure systems brought long periods of damp and windy weather to much of the country, making it feel at times more like autumn than summer – a sharp contrast to July 2022, which saw heatwaves and temperatures as high as 40C.
The UK had an average of 140.1mm rain last month, the sixth highest total for July since records began in 1836, according to provisional data.
Northern Ireland had an average of 185.4mm of rain last month, just above the previous record of 185.2mm set in July 1936. This figure could be revised once all rainfall data for July is collected and reviewed, the Met Office said.
It was provisionally the eighth wettest July on record in Scotland (an average of 155.1mm of rain), the 10th wettest in England (120.4mm) and the 11th wettest in Wales (176.7mm).
Some parts of England also set new rainfall records. Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside all saw their wettest July. Lancashire was the wettest county compared to average, with 234.6mm of rain falling in the month.
References
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