WEATHER WARNING
100mph deadly storm on the way
BRITAIN’S worst storm for almost three decades will bring the nation to a standstill with power cuts and traffi c chaos, experts warned last night.
Hurricane- force winds of up to 100mph – strong enough to uproot trees, cause severe structural damage and tear down power lines – are expected to hit the UK on Sunday night or Monday morning.
As forecasters warned that Britain faces a “historic” storm, the Met Offi ce issued a level- 2 amber warning for strong winds along the south coast.
It issued lower level- 1 yellow warnings for strong winds and rain for almost all the rest of England and Wales.
With some forecasters predicting almost two inches of rain, there are fears that fl oods could add to the chaos.
Met Offi ce forecaster Helen Chivers said: “We are looking at a storm similar to the Burns Day storm in January 1990 which saw wind speeds of 92mph.”
The Met Offi ce issued a statement last night saying: “As we move into Sunday night and Monday morning there is a risk that a signifi cant storm could develop close to the UK which has the potential to bring some exceptionally strong winds to parts of the country.
“Currently the storm is most likely to impact the southern half of the UK, with the potential for gusts of more than 80mph – especially on exposed coasts in the South.
“Winds of this strength could bring down trees or cause structural damage, potentially causing transport disruption or power cuts.”
Chief forecaster Eddie Carroll added: “The storm is likely to intensify rapidly just west of the UK late on Sunday before tracking across England and Wales early on Monday.
“People should be aware there is a risk of severe weather and signifi cant disruption.
“People should keep up to date with and act on the advice in our forecasts and warnings as the situation develops.
“This storm is more unusual, developing much closer to the UK and potentially tracking across the country while still in its most powerful phase.”
Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said winds could hit 100mph.
He added: “This is going to be a historic weather event. Although the south coast will bear the brunt, the whole country is at risk.
“This is going to be around 48 hours of utter misery for many. It is a tropical system originat- ing in the Mexico region which has been carried along by the jet stream and now heading straight for the UK.
“People should be on alert for power outages, uprooted trees and the possibility of severe building damage, on a par with the Great Storm of 1987.”
The Great Storm killed 18 people and caused £ 1billion worth of damage.
Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said: “The storm will also bring some heavy rain with between 1in and 1.6in expected over the South- west, Wales and northern England. Since the ground is near- saturated in these western areas there will be a risk of local fl ooding.”
The Environment Agency last night had 15 fl ood alerts in place – most in the South- west – and one more serious fl ood warning for the Ouse near York.