Snow to fall as Jorge adds to deluge
● Country braced for new storm system with strong winds forecast
The Met Office has issued an alert for snow across large swathes of Scotland as flood-hit communities were warned to expect a fresh deluge brought by Storm Jorge this weekend.
A yellow weather warning forsnowremainsinplaceuntil midday Monday for much of the Scottish Highlands as well as parts of the Borders.
A separate yellow wind warning for a 24-hour period starts from midday today covering southern Scotland.
Strong winds are also forecast for much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland today, reaching 70mph in coastal areas and up to 60mph inland.
Parts of Wales and northern England were due to receive up to 80mm of rain yesterday as the storm front hit the UK.
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Where warnings are in place, gusts of 50-60mph are likely quite widely with 65-70mph possible in coastal areas.
“However, the strongest and most damaging winds are expected across the Republic of Ireland.”
When asked about the weekend’s weather prospects, Met Office forecaster Emma Salter
said: “It’s not good news I’m afraid, given all the recent rainfall we’ve had.”
Flooding along parts of the River Severn, which has reached close to its highest levels in some areas, is likely until at least tomorrow the Environment Agency said.
A severe “danger to life” flood warning covering the river at the Wharfage in Ironbridge, Shropshire, remained in place yesterday.
Residents in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley were forced to evacuate earlier after the river spilled over barriers at Beales Corner.
And in East Yorkshire, residents were being evacuated from the village of East Cowick after the River Aire broke its banks. This month is already the second wettest February on record, with the total average rainfall from 1 to 25 February measuring 179.3mm, the Met Office said.
The figure to beat is 193.4mm, which was set in February 1990.
The Republic of Ireland is expected to face the strongest and most damaging winds, Mr Gunderson said.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to say whether he would visit those made homeless by recent flooding.
Storm Jorge is the fifth storm to hit the UK since 6 December last year and third in February.