UK weather: Major incidents declared as three killed amid red …

Storm Babet: Plane skids off runway at Leeds Bradford Airport amid extreme weather

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Major incidents were declared in parts of the UK after three people were killed as Storm Babet continues to batter the UK with high winds, torrential rain and severe flooding^[1].

Across the UK, roads have closed and train services have been left in disarray or cancelled.

Suffolk and Derbyshire county councils declared major incidents, and a man died in fast-flowing floodwater in Shropshire.

It was the storm’s first death in England^[2] after a van driver was killed by a falling tree near Forfar, Scotland^[3], and a woman was swept away in a river in Angus.

A passenger plane had to be evacuated after it skidded off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport as it tried to land in high winds.

The village of Edzell, near Brechin in eastern Scotland, was completely cut off by flooding, while people in 60 homes around Brechin who had refused to budge when the rest of the town was evacuated were finally rescued as hundreds of houses flooded.

The Met Office issued a new red warning for rain, meaning there is a risk to life, in eastern Scotland for all day on Saturday.

Have you been affected by Storm Babet? Email [email protected].

Flights cancelled after Tui runway incident

The closure of Leeds Bradford airport after a Tui plane veered off the runway caused dozens of delayed, cancelled or diverted flights.

More than 2,000 passengers were hit by a total of 34 cancellations, including Ryanair flights to Palma, Malaga and Chania in Crete.

Wizz Air has cancelled flights linking Leeds Bradford with Krakow and Katowice in Poland as well as Bucharest and Cluj in Romania.

Travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible, and meanwhile the airline must provide hotels and meals as appropriate.

Tui holidaymakers hoping to return from Corfu to Manchester were also affected.

The aircraft involved in the runway excursion was flying what is known as a “W-pattern”. It began in Manchester on Friday morning, with a plan to fly to Corfu, back to Leeds Bradford and out to Corfu again before the return flight to Manchester.

Simon Calder21 October 2023 03:00

ICYMI: Tui plane skids off runway

A passenger plane at Leeds Bradford Airport had to be evacuated yesterday after it skidded off the runway as it tried to land in high winds.

Operator Tui said no one was injured, although the airport was briefly closed.

One passenger, Malcolm Fell, said the skid had been “a little bit dramatic” but everyone onboard was “quite calm”.

“'My wife, [who] was sat next to me, turned to me and said I think you better brace yourself because this is not going to stop. And then all of a sudden...we were at a standstill on the grass,” he told MailOnline.

(Bradford T&A / SWNS)

Katy Clifton21 October 2023 02:00

In pictures: winds and rain

Waves crash near sculpture in Scarborough

(PA)

High water levels around a stadium in Rotherham

(PA)

People stand on a bench at a bus stop in Dublin’s city centre

(PA)

Jane Dalton21 October 2023 00:00

Roads and bridges collapse

Roads and bridges collapsed as Storm Babet hit Scotland.

A 200-year-old bridge on the Rottal Estate in Angus was washed away by torrential flood water, while a road connecting Marykirk, Angus, where some houses were evacuated also collapsed.

Dee Ward, 58, estate manager for the Rottal Estate said: “I think this is the new pattern, I don’t think we will go back to normal.

“The frightening thing is how much water is coming down in a short space of time.

“I wasn’t surprised the bridge got washed away.

“Big posts had been ripped out further up the hill.”

Zena Cowie, 28, said a road had collapsed that connected Marykirk with the dual carriageway to Montrose, Angus.

Ms Cowie said: “The road at the start of the bridge that crosses the river has collapsed.

“Marykirk is the main way to the dual carriageway to get to the dual carriageway, to go into Montrose.

“The other way is to go into Brechin which is also flooded.”

Jane Dalton20 October 2023 22:30

Amber and yellow weather warnings for swathes of UK

An amber weather warning for rain is in place for some parts of northern England including Yorkshire and Manchester, as well as some of the Midlands, including Nottingham.

And a yellow weather warning for much of the east coast of the UK has been put in place for wind and rain on Saturday.

Weather warnings for Saturday

(Met Office)

Jane Dalton20 October 2023 21:30

‘Considerable risk’ of Aberdeenshire river flooding

Aberdeenshire Council warned of “considerable risk of flooding” on the River Don at the weekend.

A spokesperson said: “Latest modelling from Sepa is indicating that there is now a considerable risk of flooding on the River Don at Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore tomorrow (Sat) between 10am and 2pm.

“This has the potential to impact properties in low-lying areas and we would urge residents and businesses to get prepared and take immediate steps to protect their own property from flooding.”

Jane Dalton20 October 2023 20:20

Fallen tree blocks rail line

A fallen tree on the Neilston line in Scotland damaged overhead cables.

Jane Dalton20 October 2023 19:50

Major incident declared in Derbyshire as roads closed

A major incident has been declared in Derbyshire, prompting advice not travel unless essential until further notice this weekend.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service wrote: “Most roads in Derbyshire are affected by flooding and many are closed.

“We are calling on our communities to follow the advice below to keep safe: Do not travel unless essential from now until further information is available later in the weekend.

“Continue to watch for weather and flooding updates. Look out for vulnerable neighbours, especially if they have care services who may not be able to reach them.

“Never drive or walk into floodwater, even if it appears shallow – it could endanger your life.”

“Do not ignore road closed signs,” it added.

Jane Dalton20 October 2023 19:05

Long delays on A1 amid flooding

Flooding has caused delays of more than an hour on the A1 near Grantham, National Highways has said.

“Due to extensive flooding in the area, the A1 has reduced capacity both ways between the A46 and B6326 near Grantham. Traffic officers, Nottinghamshire Police and contractors are working to clear the water and get the lanes moving; there are delays of 70 minutes on the approach,” it posted.

Jane Dalton20 October 2023 19:00

Rail lines closed

ScotRail routes currently closed are between:

– Aberdeen and Elgin

– Edinburgh and Aberdeen via Fife

– Perth and Aberdeen via Dundee

– Dunblane and Perth

– Perth and Aviemore

– Tain and Wick / Thurso

– All Fife Circle services

Jane Dalton20 October 2023 18:45

References

1. ^{^} flooding (www.independent.co.uk)
2. ^{^} England (www.independent.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Scotland (www.independent.co.uk)
4. ^{^} 1697853600 (www.independent.co.uk)
5. ^{^} 1697850000 (www.independent.co.uk)
6. ^{^} 1697842829 (www.independent.co.uk)
7. ^{^} 1697837436 (www.independent.co.uk)
8. ^{^} 1697833836 (www.independent.co.uk)
9. ^{^} 1697829618 (www.independent.co.uk)
10. ^{^} 1697827835 (www.independent.co.uk)
11. ^{^} 1697825129 (www.independent.co.uk)
12. ^{^} 1697824829 (www.independent.co.uk)
13. ^{^} 1697823929 (www.independent.co.uk)