Storm Brian blows in for a weekend of mayhem

MANY parts of the British Isles have only just got over Ophelia. Now it’s Brian’s turn to cause weather mayhem.

Heavy rain and winds of up to 70mph are likely to hit the south and west of England and west Wales tomorrow.

The wild conditions, caused by a ‘weather bomb’ over the Atlantic, may also cause coastal flooding, forecasters said. It comes just days after three people were killed during Storm Ophelia, which caused extensive damage in Ireland, Wales and the North West.

A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for areas affected by Storm Brian from 4am on Saturday to midnight. Some parts of the country could see more than two inches of rain as an area of intense low pressure sets in.

A more severe amber warning has been issued for Ireland.

Met Office chief forecaster Dan Suri said: ‘ Storm Brian is expected to bring strong winds to southern and western areas early on Saturday morning.

‘The first and most significant landbased impacts will be in the south-west of Ireland, hence the amber warning from

‘Dramatic waves pose threat to life’

Met Éireann. At the moment, we don’t expect the same level of impacts for the UK.’ The strongest winds, in coastal areas, are expected to coincide with high tides, leading to potentially dangerous conditions and coastal flooding.

There were 11 flood alerts in place along the South West coast of England last night. Thrill-seekers were warned not to risk their safety by posing for ‘storm selfies’ along the coast.

Grahame Madge from the Met Office said: ‘Dramatic waves could pose a threat to life and there will be quite hazardous conditions along the seafront.’

The system is called a ‘weather bomb’ because of a process in which the central pressure inside an area of low pressure falls at a rapid rate. This causes it to suck in air, resulting in faster and faster rotation. The Met Office warned it could bring down trees, cause structural damage and affect travel.

RAC spokesman Pete Williams advised drivers to be prepared for sudden gusts and debris.