Storm Babet latest: Met Office issues red weather warning, flooding in Ireland, UK braces for heavy wind & rain
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The UK is bracing itself for heavy wind and rain as Storm Babet sweeps in from across the Atlantic. The Met Office has issued a rare red weather alert for parts of the country, warning of a “risk to life”.
Storm Babet, a complex area of low pressure which developed to the west of the Iberian Peninsula, was named by the Met Office on Monday morning. The second named storm of the season will last until Saturday, the forecaster said, and is expected to cause flooding, power cuts and travel disruption.
National World will be updating this live blog with the latest news as the extreme weather conditions continue to batter the nation.
Storm Babet latest as extreme weather conditions continue to batter the UK
BBC Breakfast: Fire & rescue service issue 'do not travel' warning
Emergency crews have had to rescue 20 people from a care home in Derbyshire as cars were submerged in flood water in the county, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue have said.
More than 100 people had to be rescued across the county on Friday and the service declared a major incident due to the impact of Storm Babet.
Clive Stanbrook, area manager at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, warned flood waters could continue to rise near Derby and across south Derbyshire on Saturday.
He told BBC Breakfast: “We rescued over 100 people yesterday. For example, just on one road in Chesterfield in the north of the county, we rescued 60 people when that (water level) became up to the top of cars and several HGVs were stuck as well.”
The RSPCA has also volunteered a boat crew in Derbyshire to help rescue animals such as horses and dogs.
Mr Stanbrook warned it will be dangerous travelling in flooded areas on Saturday. He said: “The advice we give today is only travel if absolutely, absolutely necessary. If floodwaters recede, then that’s absolutely great…
“But on the road there is still going to be silt, there is still going to be debris that is going to cause real, real danger to anybody travelling at the moment – no matter what you’re travelling in. No matter what size car or vehicle, please only travel if absolutely necessary.
“Please be careful of riverbanks and canal banks. They are going to be soft. Everything is going to be dangerous today if you’re walking or travelling, so please travel if only absolutely necessary.”
Met Office: "Stay safe"
The Met Office are urging people to "stay safe" as a red weather warning remains in place this morning.
Flood warnings: Over 360 in place across the country
Julie Foley, director of flood strategy and adaptation at the Environment Agency, has said “we have over 360 flood warnings and many flood alerts across the country”.
She told BBC One’s Breakfast programme: “I’m really conscious that over the weekend… we’ve got a lot of water now moving through our river catchments, so we’re going to continue to see river levels continuing to rise.
“So it’s really important, actually, that people stay vigilant and they check the status of flood warnings on gov.uk and by doing that you can get the latest information, live information on flood alerts and flood warnings in your area, as well as really practical advice about what to do during and after a flood.”
Environment Agency: 'Don’t drive through flood water'
The Environment Agency has issued a warning not to drive through flood water ....
Weather warning: Met Office issues second red alert
A second rare red weather warning has been issued for parts of eastern Scotland throughout Saturday.
The Met Office is urging those in the area to “Stay safe and follow the guidance of travel operators and emergency services.”
Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf warns: “We have not seen the last of this.”
UK airport, transport and travel latest
Storm Babet has caused major transport disruption as heavy rain and strong winds continue to batter the UK. Airports, train stations and ferry ports have all been impacted with some services cancelled due to the ongoing extreme weather.
NationalWorld has the latest traffic and travel updates here.
Ferries at the Port of Dover, Kent
Ferries arrive and leave the Port of Dover in Kent as Storm Babet continues to batter the UK, causing widespread flooding and high winds.
Villages in the wake of Storm Babet
The devastating impact of Storm Babet has been captured by drone footage showing a UK village left under water over the weekend.
Footage taken by Harvey Morgans shows the streets of Sandiacre, Derbyshire, submerged on Saturday morning.
Storm Babet claims another life
An 80-year-old woman has been found dead at her home - although the cause of death is still being investigated, the force said “it is believed it is related to the flooding seen in the Chesterfield area”.
If these suspicions are confirmed it will take the Storm Babet death toll to at least four.
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