The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for the eastern coast of Scotland, South East England, and Northern Ireland, with heavy rain expected. These warnings come after the areas were already battered by Storm Babet last week. Scotland, in particular, is at risk of experiencing between 50mm and 80mm of rain and winds reaching speeds of 50mph to 70mph. The rain warnings in Scotland are in effect until 12am on Monday.
In Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, a flood warning has been issued as high water levels are observed around Tewkesbury Abbey, and vehicles have been left stranded in a flooded car park in the town. Similarly, in Hastings, East Sussex, a shopping center had to be evacuated due to the flooding. The East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service advised residents to move their cars in the town center to avoid further flooding.
Train services in Scotland have also been affected, with no direct routes between the Central Belt and Aberdeen and Inverness until Sunday. LNER has warned of delays between Edinburgh and Newcastle, and both TransPennine Express and CrossCountry are operating on a reduced timetable due to the risk of flooding.
Storm Babet has already caused seven deaths, including three in Scotland. Now, with the yellow weather warning for heavy rain in place until Sunday, the risk of further flooding is a concern. The warning for rain in the south and east of England covers areas such as London, Kent, Sussex, and Essex and is expected to bring between 15mm and 30mm of rain.
Furthermore, there are currently 39 tidal and river flooding warnings in place, particularly in East Sussex and Kent. The Met Office has also warned of the potential for power cuts, flooding, public transport disruption, and difficult driving conditions.
First Minister Humza Yousaf visited the town of Brechin in Angus, Scotland, where hundreds of homes had to be evacuated due to the River South Esk bursting its banks. While Scottish government funding has been pledged for recovery efforts, Yousaf acknowledged that it will be a long road to recovery for affected communities.
Looking ahead, the weather front is expected to continue moving northwards during Sunday, especially impacting eastern Scotland, which is already sensitive to heavy rainfall due to the aftermath of Storm Babet. Temperatures across the UK will range from 10C (50F) to 13C (55F) in the north and highs of 16C (61F) in the south.
With low pressure dominating this weekend, there is a risk of further flooding and travel disruption. Sky News's weather presenter Kirsty McCabe warns that eastern Scotland could receive another 50 to 100mm of rain, with up to 150mm over the hills. She also highlights heavy showers expected in eastern counties of Northern Ireland, southwest Wales, and southeast England. Southern parts of England could experience particularly disruptive weather, with heavy and thundery showers merging into longer spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds.
Railway services are bracing for more disruptions, as ScotRail has already suspended some services and LNER warns of delays between Edinburgh and Newcastle. Network Rail Scotland advises that more heavy rain is on the way, posing a risk of flooding due to the already saturated ground from Storm Babet.
Overall, the areas affected by Storm Babet are now facing another bout of heavy rain, which could lead to further flooding and travel disruptions. The authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
