The United Kingdom is currently being battered by Storm Ingrid, which is unleashing powerful 60 mile per hour winds and torrential rainfall across multiple regions. The Met Office has issued urgent yellow weather warnings for significant portions of the country, forecasting that some areas could receive up to 50 millimetres of rain within the next 24 hours. This deluge is equivalent to the average monthly rainfall total for January in many parts of southern England, posing a severe risk of widespread disruption.
Nationwide Weather Warnings and Impacts
Three separate yellow weather warnings are currently active, covering southwest England, all of Northern Ireland, and eastern Scotland. The storm made landfall in the southwest overnight, leading to immediate reports of toppled trees and localised flooding across Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset. Significant travel chaos is expected to persist in these areas until approximately 10pm this evening.
Severe Transport Disruption
The extreme conditions have caused major transport issues. In a rare move, Network Rail issued a 'black alert' for Devon, forcing the closure of the railway line between Exeter St David's and Newton Abbot station until at least 2pm this afternoon. There is also a significant risk of waves, expected to reach heights of up to 12 feet, crashing over the sea wall at Dawlish.
Road travel has been similarly affected. The A39 in Cornwall was briefly closed this morning due to a fallen tree between the St Teath turn off junction and the B3267. The Met Office has warned that saturated ground conditions mean even modest rainfall could lead to further road flooding and potentially impassable routes, with difficult driving conditions expected nationwide.
Power Cuts and Further Risks
Overnight, approximately 2,000 households in Devon and Cornwall were left without electricity, and further power cuts are anticipated as the storm progresses. The Met Office alert emphasised that winds approaching gale force during Saturday morning, although not as strong as yesterday, may continue to exacerbate impacts, particularly along the English Channel coastline.
Storm Progression and Forecast
Storm Ingrid, which was named by Portugal's national meteorological service (IPMA), hit Spain yesterday before drifting northwards over the Celtic Sea. It is now exposing mainland Britain and Northern Ireland to frequent heavy showers and some longer spells of rain throughout the weekend.
In Scotland, a weather warning will remain in place until 9am tomorrow morning, coinciding with persistent and heavy rain and snow over higher ground. A separate warning for all of Northern Ireland is also active. Other parts of the UK, including south Wales areas like Cardiff, Swansea, and St David's, are covered by the warnings for southwest England.
Expert Commentary from the Met Office
Met Office Chief Forecaster, Andy Page, provided an overview of the situation: "Unsettled weather continues for many across the UK with persistent and heavy rain in parts of Scotland with snow over higher ground, and strong winds and heavy rain in southwestern England and southern Wales."
He added a note on conditions elsewhere: "Elsewhere while it’ll be a breezy weekend there will be brighter and drier spells with occasional showers passing through fairly quickly." However, the primary focus remains on the severe conditions brought by Storm Ingrid, with authorities urging the public to stay informed and travel only if necessary.
