Forecasters warning of high winds, heavy rain and flooding as Alex storms in
FALLING trees, high winds, heavy rain and the prospect of flooding announced the arrival of Storm Alex.
A yellow Met Office weather warning in Wales for rain on Saturday and Sunday is now amber for much of the country, with reports that a month’s worth of rain could fall over the weekend.
The “unusual” wind directions also mean that places that are normally more sheltered will be hit.
The storm, named Alex by French forecasters, is expected to lead to substantial disruption across Wales as an area of low pressure moves away from France.
It brought winds of more than 95mph to France and caused disruption across northern parts of the country.
A huge tree fell down on Oxford Street, in Swansea, yesterday afternoon.
Graham Darby, who filmed the aftermath, heard a loud sound at around 1.30pm.
“It sounded like lightning at first as the branch was breaking. When I looked up, I saw that the branch was falling so ran to the side and it missed me. I then had to walk around to make sure no one was hurt and everyone appeared to be OK.
“I then took the film around two minutes after it happened.”
Graham said the tree missed him and others by “inches”.
“Thankfully, no-one was hurt. If town had been busier it could have been a different story. Thank God for the lockdown,” he added.
Yesterday, high winds led to the closure of the A48 Severn Crossing, with a diversion put in place via the Second Severn Crossing, the Prince of Wales
Bridge. A tree was also brought down on the A470 near Abercynon.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is asking people to be alert for flooding as widespread and prolonged rainfall is expected this weekend.
Emergency response workers from NRW will be at key sites, checking defences are in good working order and making sure any drainage grids and screens are clear to reduce the risk to people and their homes.
Sean Moore, from Natural Resources Wales said: “The predicted weather is likely to cause flooding up and down the country over the weekend so we’re advising everyone to keep up to date with flood warnings issued in their areas. We are working alongside our partners from the emergency services and local authorities to minimise the risk to communities.
“We want people to be aware that flood water can be extremely dangerous, and people should not attempt to walk or drive through it unless instructed by the emergency services.”
Its new service on Rainfall, River and Sea Levels is available on our website as well as flood alerts and flood warnings, which are updated every 15 minutes and are available to view at www.naturalresources. wales/flooding. The heavy rain is predicted to continue until Sunday morning.
The amber Met Office warning states: “This is likely to bring flooding and some disruption to travel. Many places will see 25-50mm of rainfall, with totals of 70-90mm expected over higher ground of Wales and southwest England as well as the potential for over 120mm in some of the most exposed high ground.
“The unusual wind direction associated with the rainfall will mean that the peak rainfall totals are likely to occur in some areas that are usually well sheltered and drier during unsettled spells of weather.”
Welsh weather forecaster Derek Brockway said yesterday: “The Met Office has issued an amber warning of heavy rain for most of Wales from 1200 tomorrow until 0600 Sunday. Some flooding and transport disruption likely.”