The Met Office has issued amber and yellow weather warnings as Storm Chandra prepares to make landfall across the UK, urging households to prepare by assembling seven essential items to help weather the storm.
A severe amber rain warning is in effect from 5pm this evening until 9am tomorrow for seven areas in southwest England, including Bournemouth, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay. Residents are advised to expect heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and possible disruptions.
“Homes and businesses are at risk of flooding, resulting in damage and danger to life due to fast-flowing or deep floodwater,” the Met Office warned. “Delays and cancellations to train and bus services are likely.”
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To mitigate potential loss or damage from flooding, vulnerable residents are encouraged to prepare a flood kit containing the following seven vital items recommended by the weather authority:
- Waterproof clothing
- Torch with spare batteries
- Battery-powered radio
- First aid kit
- Important documents in a waterproof container
- Emergency contact numbers
- Non-perishable food and bottled water
Poor driving conditions, power outages, and community isolation due to flooding are possible. Additionally, landslides may occur in prone locations as rainfall could range from 30-50mm broadly, with up to 60-80mm in higher terrain, particularly around south Dartmoor.
A yellow rain warning is also active from 1pm today until 10am tomorrow, affecting other regions. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland faces a similar rain alert for counties Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone from noon until midnight.
Looking ahead, further bad weather is forecast. Severe wind gusts of 60-70 mph—possibly reaching 75 mph along the eastern Northern Ireland coast—are anticipated. The Met Office notes that such strong easterly winds are unusual and likely to cause significant impact.
Southwest England continues to recover from Storm Ingrid, which caused damage including washing away part of a historic pier. Additional downpours are expected, alongside wind warnings in Cornwall, southwestern Wales, and northern Devon. Meanwhile, Scotland and northern England have snow warnings, with accumulations of 2-5cm widely and up to 10-20cm expected at higher elevations.
Environment Agency data reports 21 flood warnings and 124 flood alerts across England as of Monday afternoon, primarily concentrated in the South West and near York.
Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen emphasized the severity of the conditions, warning of gusts up to 80 mph in vulnerable areas and cautioning residents to remain vigilant: “Heavy rain on already saturated ground in Dorset, Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall increases flood risk. As Chandra moves north, snow hazards rise with significant accumulations across the Pennines, southern Scotland, and the Highlands. Staying informed on local forecasts and warnings is essential during this complex weather event.”