WE’RE BRACED FOR EL OF A BATTERING
Warnings of 80mph wind and flooding
®
BRITAIN enjoyed the calm before the storm yesterday with hurricane-strength winds set to strike today.
The New Year’s Day quiet will be replaced by 80mph Storm Eleanor, which has been brewing in the Atlantic.
The Met Office has issued two weather warnings – just in time for the start of the working week.
With torrential downpours set to bash Britain tomorrow, people are advised to batten down the hatches.
The rain could flood low-lying areas and travel is likely to be disrupted as people head back to work after the Christmas and New Year break.
The Environment Agency has issued 56 flood alerts across the entire country with a more serious flood warning in central England.
Carol Holt, of the Environment Agency, said the potential for large waves combined with high tides could mean some coastal floodgates being shut.
Arctic
“Don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger trying to take storm selfies,” she warned.
“If you’re travelling, don’t drive through flood water.”
Bitterly cold winds are likely to strike the country from the Arctic on Saturday which could also bring frost.
Bookies Coral are giving odds of 6-4 for January to be the coldest on record.
Coral’s John Hill said: “It has been a cold start to the New Year and the betting suggests temperatures aren’t going to increase anytime soon as the odds have been cut for this month to end as the coldest January on record in the UK.
“With Storm Dylan continuing to disrupt the nation, we are offering just evens for the wind speed to reach as high as 100mph in mainland UK this week. And we are not ruling out snowfall in London.”
Andy Page, the Met Office’s chief forecaster, said: “The wind will pick up again later.
“Today and Wednesday are expected to be very windy across England and Wales, with gales or severe gales in places and national severe weather warnings have been issued for these strong winds.
“The gales, combined with locally thundery downpours, may make driving difficult and cause disruption.”
Deputy chief forecaster Dan Harris added that next weekend could bring a return of colder conditions with a risk of frost, ice and wintry conditions, particularly in the north.
The fresh warnings come just a day after Storm Dylan lashed parts of Ireland and Wales with howling gales in excess of 70mph and squally rain for a wet and windy New Year’s Eve.
But the terrible weather didn’t deter revellers from taking to the pubs, clubs and streets on December 31.