What happened to summer?
80mph Francis lashes UK
THOSE trying to enjoy the great outdoors got a rude awakening yesterday as Britain was lashed by its second storm in a week.
Campers had to be rescued, homes were flooded and at least two people were feared drowned as heavy rain and near-80mph winds wreaked havoc.
Storm Francis caused the greatest problems in Wales and southern England, with travel chaos as trees and power lines blew down.
In the Lake District, 3.3in of rain fell – more than the monthly average for August.
The Met Office warned of danger from flying debris and large waves. It issued yellow weather warnings for much of the UK, upgrading them to amber for Wales and the Midlands until midday today, when conditions are forecast to ease. Flood alerts were also in place for more than 40 rivers in Wales and England.
A man was taken to hospital and a further 30 campers had to be evacuated at daybreak from a caravan park at Wisemans Bridge in Pembrokeshire. Twelve caravans were also pulled to safety.
At St Clears, Carmarthenshire, nine campers and two dogs were rescued by boat by the fire brigade after a river burst its banks. In Cardiff, police were searching the River Taff for a man said to have entered the water at 8.40am, while a canoeist was reported missing after capsizing eight miles upstream at Taff’s Well.
A woman was rescued from the River Ely, near Cardiff, after going in the water to help her dog. There was flooding across south and west Wales, with trains between Swansea and Cardiff cancelled.
The Severn Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland were closed due to the high winds.
In Cornwall trees blocked the A30 and A39, while thousands suffered power cuts. A woman was seriously injured when a falling tree hit her car in Little Wymondley, Hertfordshire. It is the first time since the naming process began in 2015 that there have been two named storms in August, after Ellen struck last week.
Steve Ramsdale, chief meteorologist for the Met Office, said: ‘Wind speeds this strong are unusual during August and may come as a surprise to people spending time outdoors trying to catch the last few days of summer.’