Britain braced for 70mph winds and a month’s rain in 48 hours as tail-end of Hurricanes Lee and Maria boost huge Atlantic storm
The coming week will be Britain’s windiest since the end of last winter
BRITAIN is braced for 70mph winds and a month's rain in 48 hours as tail-end of Hurricanes Lee and Maria lashes the nation.
Flood warnings have been issued for the North and West, and blackouts and floods are expected across the country.
The coming week will be Britain’s windiest since the end of last winter when Storms Doris and Ewan hit on February 23 and 26, said The Weather Company, the world’s biggest commercial forecaster.
Cumbria was blighted with localised flooding today, and the reported flooding in Windermere, Ings and Kirkby-in-Furness and the Environment Agency had a flood alert in place for the Rivers Kent and Bela.
Met Office forecaster Sophie Yeomans said: “Remnants of Hurricanes Lee and Maria are increasing rain amounts until Monday from a low pressure system.
“Up to 80mm could fall and lead to localised flooding.
“Monday will be windy for all parts with the chance of gusts as high as 70mph locally and the risk of wind impacts to travel.
“It will be windy during the next week, especially across the North.
“Another low pressure system comes in later on Wednesday - and next weekend sees rainy spells and gales, perhaps severe gales.”
Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples said: “People should check the forecast before travelling and be prepared for journeys to take longer.”
Leon Brown, head of meteorological operations at The Weather Channel, owned by The Weather Company, said: “The coming week looks like the windiest spell since the end of last winter, when storms Doris and Ewan occurred in February.”
Forecasters said that by the weekend these systems will have drifted away from the tropics, and as they lose connection with warmer waters they will lose this source of energy and decline.
The stormy weather followers a wetter than average September.
