Storm Diana bludgeons Britain into flood alert
STORM Diana brought strong winds and heavy rain to parts of Britain yesterday as flood warnings were issued for the South-west.
The Met Office also issued alerts for winds of up to 60mph in western parts, from Cornwall up the coast to the far north of Scotland, where gusts of up to 75mph were forecast.
The Environment Agency warned that flooding was expected at Lyme Regis and West Bay in Dorset and possibly in other parts of the Southwest and Wales.
Met Office spokesman Richard Miles said the warnings are at the “lower end of the impact scale” but still advised people to be cautious.
He said: “There could be some risks for high-sided vehicles on high roads and people should be careful in coastal areas. In Scotland we could see 40-50mm of rain across the hills.”
Mr Miles said Diana, named by Portuguese authorities, “had quite an impact” on Atlantic islands but had weakened as it travelled to the UK. He said: “By the time it got to us it would not meet the criteria for us to name it.”
The last Met Office-named storm was Callum in mid-October. The next name to be used will be Deirdre.
The AA has warned: “Heavy rain and strong wind, coupled with commuting home in the dark, can make for some very hazardous driving conditions.
“If the road ahead is flooded, don’t chance it. Floodwater can be deceptively deep, so turn around and find another route.”