UK weather LIVE: Flooding latest as Met Office issues rain warning
Published: 07:25, 24 October 2023 | Updated: 08:16, 24 October 2023
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UK temperatures forecast for this week
This two-part graphic in the Daily Mail shows the weather forecast for three-hour intervals in locations across the UK today, and then the five-day forecast:
Storm Babet coverage in the Daily Mail
Here is how Storm Babet has been covered in the Daily Mail today – both in the national edition and the Scottish edition. You can buy the newspaper for £1.
Fellow locals of the 83-year-old Storm Babet victim whose lifeless body was found floating in the floodwaters at her waterlogged home have spoken of the devastation caused by the flooding – including one neighbour who was forced to pump 150 tonnes of water.
Housebound grandmother Maureen Gilbert died after Storm Babet floodwaters rushed into her home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire quicker than she could get upstairs to evade them on Saturday morning.
Dave Thomas, 76, a fellow resident of Tapton Terrace, where Mrs Gilbert had lived all her life, said he had to pay for his own tanker to come and pump out the water, with nearly 150 tonnes removed on Sunday afternoon.
Read the full story on MailOnline:
What is the UK weather forecast this week?
Here is the UK weather forecast for this week from Metegroup UK:
A rather cloudy start over most of the country with spells of rain across southern and eastern areas during the morning. Gradually turning brighter during the day with spells of sunshine developing from the south however there is also a threat of scattered showers. A moderate south-westerly wind
Remaining mostly cloudy over the north tomorrow with outbreaks of rain and heavy showers along the southern coast of England. Another band of unsettled weather will arrive from the south-west in the afternoon, bringing rain and heavy showers to western parts of the UK. A fresh westerly wind
The band of heavy rain and showers from yesterday will clear eastwards away from the country during the morning, with a mixture of sunny spells and scattered outbreaks of showers following after.
Remaining slightly unsettled on Friday with scattered showers and intermittent spells of sunshine
Chesterfield residents left ‘helpless’ by floods
Residents in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, said they have been left ‘helpless’ by the floods – as it emerged a church appeal to help affected families in the town has raised £28,000 so far.
Mother-of-one Coral Curtis (pictured below), who bought her home in a quiet residential street near the River Rother just eight months ago, revealed she ‘cried’ when she returned to the property, which was filled with stinking mud.
She said: ‘It was very emotional, I don’t know how to describe it. I don’t know how long it will take to sort.’
Mick Cook, a landlord of one of the houses, said: ‘It isn’t going to dry out in winter. When the road flooded last time, it was in June (2007) and I didn’t get back in there until June the following year and that was when the weather was warmer.
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen this time. It will take ages to dry out.
His tenant, Simon Tart, said: ‘You just feel helpless – when the water is coming in, there’s nothing you can do. It’s devastating, your whole life is turned upside down in the space of a few hours.’
Mysterious ‘shipwreck’ washes up on beach
A huge wooden structure was brought onto the Marske-by-the-Sea beach by Storm Babet, which could be a section of a 200-year-old shipwrecked boat.
Dog walkers noticed that the structure had appeared on the sand in the North Yorkshire seaside town on Saturday amid strong winds and huge waves.
Some locals believe the wooden frame could be part of the Whitby whaling boat The Esk, which was grounded just off the coast of Marske in September 6, 1826.
Redcar and Cleveland Council has said it is aware of the structure, but its identity has yet to be confirmed by any authorities.
Council clears streets of destroyed furniture
One of the worst-hit areas of England amid flooding caused by Storm Babet was Chesterfield in Derbyshire.
Hundreds of properties were left submerged, and Sky News footage this morning showed the council clearing streets of destroyed furniture left outside homes:
Latest UK weather forecast from Laura Tobin
Laura Tobin has just given a weather update on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. She said we should expect an ‘unsettled week with more rain in the forecast’:
Is flooding affecting the London Underground?
There are no reported issues on the Transport for London network today due to the weather.
All London Underground lines, Overground lines and the Elizabeth line are said to be operating a good service – with the one exception of the Bakerloo line, which has minor delays following emergency engineering work at Lambeth North.
Which trains are still impacted by the storm?
Almost all rail routes across Britain have now reopened following severe disruption amid Storm Babet and are operating a normal service, except for these two:
Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh
Network Rail trains will route prove and examine the line until approximately midday with the line expected to open with the first service the 1.46pm Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness. Some services may run between Inverness and Dingwall only.
One replacement bus will run in place of the cancelled 10.56am Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh service, but this will be unable to serve Duirinish, Plockton, Duncraig, Stromferry, Achnasellach, Achnasheen and Achanalt.
Inverness and Thurso / Wick
The line on this route will remain closed all day between Tain and Wick. Some services may terminate or start at Invergordon or Tain. Replacement road transport will run between Invergordon, Tain and Wick in place of some cancelled services.
Britain is bracing for yet more weather misery as another deluge is predicted to hit today – with yellow weather warnings coming into force.
The warning for ‘heavy rain’ is in place until 4pm this afternoon. Up to two inches of heavy rain could fall across parts of Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
Here is MailOnline’s full story on the latest weather situation today:
How many homes were flooded in the storm?
Reports of floods to the Environment Agency (EA) reached the highest level since 2015/16 at the peak of the storm, environment minister Rebecca Pow told the Commons yesterday.
The EA issued more than 300 flood warnings and received more than 1,800 calls to its flood line, she said.
Hundreds of people have been left homeless in the wake of Storm Babet, with about 1,250 properties in England flooded, according to the EA. Ms Pow said investigations are expected.
How much rain is expected to fall today?
Rachel Ayers, Met Office meteorologist, said a few places, most likely Lincolnshire and Humberside, could see 30mm (1.2in) to 50mm (2in) of rain while southern England and Wales could experience 10mm (0.4in) to 20mm (0.8in).
She said there will be ‘some respite’ across Scotland today after its battering by the storm. ‘The weather we are seeing on Tuesday is no longer associated with Storm Babet,’ Ms Ayers said.
‘We will see some heavy rain in areas affected by flooding during Storm Babet though the worst impacted areas in Scotland will remain mostly dry on Tuesday.’
She continued: ‘Within the warning area we could see some travel disruption due to spray and flooding on roads. There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life, or that some communities could be cut off due to flooded roads.’
Heavy rain in London this morning
It’s been a miserable start to the day in London today, with heavy downpours affecting the morning commute.
These pictures taken this morning show passengers trying to shelter during torrential rain as they wait for trains at Maze Hill Station in South East London:
What is the UK weather forecast for today?
The Met Office expects today to begin cloudy and damp across the North and East, while it will be brighter in the South but with a risk of heavy showers.
Where and when is today’s rain warning?
Today’s weather warning for rain has been issued to cover parts of East Midlands and Yorkshire which have already hit by flooding as a result of Storm Babet.
The Met Office issued the yellow warning for “heavy rain” which could lead to further flooding in the East Midlands, including Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, as well as much of Yorkshire including Sheffield, Leeds and York and Humberside.
The warning came into force at 3am and will run until 4pm this afternoon.
The Met Office said there is a “small chance” that homes and businesses could be flooded, that fast-flowing or deep floodwater could cause a danger to life and that some communities will be cut off by flooded roads.
This map from the Met Office has all the details:
Welcome to MailOnline’s Storm Babet liveblog
Good morning everyone and welcome to MailOnline’s liveblog on Storm Babet.
A yellow weather warning is in place for further heavy rain in the East Midlands and parts of Yorkshire until 4pm this afternoon – and more flooding is expected.
Follow us today for live updates on the continuing aftermath of the storm.
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References
- ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)