In the summer records
THE second storm of the month hit Britain yesterday for the first time since records started.
Storm Francis caused gales of up to 74mph and brought rain of 3.5in in just 24 hours – compared to the usual 2.8in for the whole of an average August.
Nicky Maxey, from the Met Office, said: “Since we began naming storms, we have never had one in August. “Now we have two.”
The strongest winds were recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight and Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales, which experienced its highest August gust for 26 years.
Aberdaron in Gwynedd suffered 71mph gusts, its worst since 1996, followed by Pembrey Sands (68mph).
The rain brought more misery to Wales, where homes were flooded in Neath, Whitland, Tonyrefail and Llanelli. But overnight the worst rain was expected in south-west Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile police were continuing to search the River Taff, north of Cardiff, after reports that two people, including a capsized canoeist, had gone into the water. A woman was rescued at the River Ely in Leckwith, while nine people and two dogs were pulled clear of a flooded campsite in St Clears, Carmarthenshire, by fire crews.
Last night warnings remained in place for heavy rain and strong winds
TREE DEATH GIRL NAMED
AN eight-year-old girl who died after a tree collapsed on her and another child has been named.
Maisy Mayne was walking along a footpath in a field in Bobbing, Kent, when she was struck.
Another child was left seriously injured when they were hit by the tree which came down amid high winds just after noon on Friday.
Maisy was declared dead at the scene and the other youngster was airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London with serious injuries.
across the UK. Rod Dennis, for RAC Breakdown, said: “Drivers look set for yet more miserable conditions in the run-up to the bank holiday.
“At the very least, surface spray on the roads will be a problem, but if conditions deteriorate further there’s the prospect of localised flooding and falling branches.”
The RNLI urged tourists to stay away from the sea, where huge waves were being whipped up.
Beaches, packed a week ago during the heatwave, were all but empty, from Brighton to Bournemouth, Blackpool to Scarborough. Commuters in cities from London to Newcastle faced journeys in atrocious conditions.
Storm Francis follows Storm Ellen last week and is expected to reach the North Sea by lunchtime today.
Ms Maxey said: “It’s a low-pressure system being fired across the Atlantic by a jet stream running at 120 knots (138mph).”
The Met Office, which started naming storms in 2014, warned that gusts could continue to cause “danger to life” as they issued a wind warning for 24 hours from 9am yesterday.
The bank holiday weekend is forecast to be changeable, with a mix of sunshine and scattered showers.
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