Vicious 48-hour Storm Brigid to bring new chaos to the UK
Gales and a deluge are set to pile on more flood misery.
The relentless winter lashing shows no signs of letting up as Storm Brigid is set to sweep in from the Atlantic and deliver a 48-hour battering this weekend.
Forecasters say no area of the UK will escape the onslaught of heavy rain, with hail, sleet and snow expected on high ground.
They predict the gales – with gusts of up to 90mph – and downpours will continue next week. Up to two inches of rain is expected on Friday but the worst of the storm – named after one of the patron saints of Ireland – is due to hit on Saturday.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for torrential downpours and strong winds in the South this weekend.
There is also an alert for snow in Scotland and the North on Friday with strong winds likely to whip up blizzard conditions.
Chief forecaster Frank Saunders said: “Another very deep area of low pressure will spread heavy rain and strong to gale force winds eastwards across the UK during Friday.” He said areas with saturated ground were “particularly sensitive” to further heavy rain.
“The public should be aware of possible disruption, primarily due to further flooding, chiefly in areas already or recently affected,” he said.
The Environment Agency has issued 135flood alerts and 14 more serious flood warnings. It said that further heavy rain could have a “significant impact” for the badly-hit Somerset Levels for the next three days, and even next week.
Hambledon in Hampshire was also singled out as under threat of more flooding.
Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said heavy rain will set in onFriday before the entire country is lashed by fierce gales, torrential rain and thunderstorms at the weekend.
He said: “This is potentially a very significant weather system. We will be calling this Storm Brigid, since it will hit Ireland first on February 1 [St Brigid’s Feast Day in Ireland].”
The storm warnings come as Britain is braced for a short blast of bitter winter weather from Siberia. The mercury could plunge to -4C (25F) in the North today and tomorrow while the South will barely get above freezing. There is a nationwide Met Office warning for ice today and tomorrow as sodden roads turn into lethal ice rinks.
Jonathan Powell, of Vantage Weather Services, said: “It is going to be bitterly cold into Thursday with widespread frosts and ice on the cards. Then we are expecting another violent Atlantic storm system from Friday with a weekend of severe gales and torrential downpours ahead.
“We could see gusts of up to 90mph and two inches of rain. The ferocity of this weather system is on a par with the devastating storms over Christmas.”
Forecasters say England is on course for the wettest winter in history if the downpours persist. So far around eight inches have fallen since the beginning of December with several more expected by the end of next month. The average is nine inches.