Concern for Storm Bram, named by the Irish Met Office, has sparked several weather warnings, including two amber alerts for rain across parts of the Southwest of England and south Wales
Nearly one month’s rain will lash across some parts of the UK today amid Storm Bram.
The Met Office forecasts around 100mm (nearly four inches) of rain to fall in just a few hours across south Wales and parts of the Southwest of England. Forecasters have issued several weather warnings, including two amber alerts for rain and multiple for wind, which remain in place throughout today.
“Storm Bram will bring a very wet and windy spell of weather, with very strong winds and further heavy rain which falling over saturated ground, could cause flooding impacts,” Dan Suri, a chief forecaster, with the Met Office, said.
Multiple flood warnings are in place, most of which are for parts of the Southwest of England. One of the two amber warnings covers sections of Devon and Cornwall, where up to 100mm of rain is expected. Typically, Plymouth in Devon sees 125mm of rain fall across a standard December.
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The other amber warning for rain concerns large sections of south Wales, such as Swansea and Bridgend. According to the Met Office statistics, Swansea sees around 114mm of rain across an entire average December so today’s forecast is particularly bleak.
There is one flood warning for Wales, for the River Ritec at Tenby, and a further 52 less severe flood warnings. It will rain heavily across north Wales too and this, coupled with the 70mph winds, will cause significant travel disruption throughout the day.
Parts of north Wales and west Wales are subject to a weather warning for wind. The fiercest gales, though, are expected across northwest Scotland, including Argyll and Bute, tonight. An amber weather warning is in place for the 90mph gales, which could lead to flying debris and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
Mr Suri added: “Within the Amber wind warning over northwest Scotland, gusts of up to 90 mph could be recorded. More widely, gusts of 50-60 mph, and perhaps 70 mph in a few spots, are expected across Wales, southwest England and Northern Ireland.
“Rain is an additional impact from Storm Bram, with the possibility of 100mm over higher ground in the south of Wales and parts of Devon. This could require updates to warnings, so it’s important to stay up to date with the forecast in your area, as well as any flood warnings from your local environment agency.”
Storm Bram will slowly pull away northwards from Britain during Wednesday. In its wake, Wednesday will be a windy day, especially in the north, with some showers, mainly in the west as well as some more persistent rain in the far north, at least at first.
