‘FRANCIS’ TO BRING FRESH ELL Rain & 70mph wind set to batter Britain
A 700-MILE wide storm bringing 70mph winds is set to wreak misery on holidaymakers across the UK.
Days after Storm Ellen hit, the Canadian vortex threatens to bring another wipeout from Tuesday.
Met Office forecasters are preparing to name it Storm Francis as soon as it is considered to require amber weather warnings.
Yellow warnings have already been issued for gusts up to 60mph for England and Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday.
MeteoGroup’s forecaster Paul Mott said: “There is certainly the chance the storm will be named, especially with potential for the strongest winds to be more widespread than
Storm Ellen, and with so many people being on holiday.
“The low pressure is coming from just south of Newfoundland. It will be an unpleasant couple of days when it arrives.”
Francis will hit Britain fresh from Storm Ellen’s pelting. It means flood warnings are also likely to be raised.
Porthcawl Lighthouse in Wales was snapped yesterday morning taking a pounding from monster waves. The scene is almost unrecognisable from that at Porthcawl’s Rest Bay, yards from the lighthouse, at the height of last summer, pictured below.
The Environment Agency said: “Local flooding is possible across England on Tuesday and Wednesday as a result of heavy rain, with local river flooding possible in the north, west and far south.”
Cool highs of 16 to 21C are due over the next few days, before a chilly bank holiday break.
Frost over the holiday weekend will spell the end of the summer. A forecaster for the Met Office said: “The bank holiday weekend should see temperatures near or slightly below average, with potential for frost overnight.
“But it will feel warm in any sunnier spells. The south looks driest.” Marco Petagna at the Met Office added: “Another deep area of low pressure looks like affecting the UK on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a wet and very windy spell likely.”