Storm Ciarán is set to usher in powerful winds and intense rainfall over southern England and Wales this Thursday.
The upcoming week appears to be turbulent for a significant portion of the UK. Several Severe Weather Alerts have been proclaimed, and more updates and notifications are anticipated throughout the week.
Before the onset of Storm Ciarán, various regions of the UK will experience intense rainfall. An Amber Severe Weather Alert is active for the eastern segments of Northern Ireland, predicting 75-100mm of rain between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Subsequently, a potent low-pressure zone, identified as Storm Ciarán, will approach from the southwest of the UK on Wednesday evening. This will result in formidable winds and significant rainfall in southern England and Wales, lasting overnight into Thursday.
Steven Keates, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, commented, “Storm Ciarán is anticipated to produce fierce winds, particularly along the southern shores of England and Wales, where gusts might range from 70 to 80mph and could even touch 90mph in vulnerable spots. Even more inland areas might experience gusts of up to 50 or 60mph.”
He added, “This potent low-pressure system will not only bring winds but also substantial rainfall across the UK. The most intense rainfall is projected for the southern and western regions, with 20-25mm anticipated broadly and up to 40-60mm in elevated areas. Given the already waterlogged terrain, there’s an enhanced risk of floods.”
Flooding Concerns
Kate Marks, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Significant surface water flooding is possible but not expected in the South East of England today and minor river flooding impacts are probable. Further significant flooding impacts are possible from Wednesday through to Friday in response to rain from Storm Ciaran.”
“We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.
“People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation at https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-at-risk-of-flooding and follow @EnvAgency on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the latest flood updates.”