UK weather: Forecasters warn Storm Jorge is ‘not good news’ for flood-hit areas
Written by News on 28/02/2020
Storm Jorge will hit the UK today with winds up to 70mph – and forecasters are warning the heavy rain is “not good news” for flood-hit areas.
A series of yellow warnings for wind and rain cover most of Wales and northwest England between now and Sunday morning – and the Met Office says 50mm to 80mm of rain is possible today.
The South West of England and Northern Ireland are also covered by some of the alerts.
Met Office forecaster Emma Salter said: “It’s not good news I’m afraid, given all the recent rainfall we’ve had.
“There will be rain first thing in the South West and Wales, with a fairly dry start for most other places.
“That rain in the far South West will move eastwards and it will be raining pretty much everywhere by lunchtime.”
More flooding is possible as rain falls on already saturated ground, and a severe “danger to life” flood warning is still in force on the River Severn in Ironbridge, Shropshire.
The town is among those forecast to get more heavy rain today.
The Environment Agency said the water level had fallen from its peak on Wednesday, but it is still urging people to take action.
It warned: “Flood barriers at The River Severn at the Wharfage, Ironbridge have been compromised and cannot prevent flooding of properties. Your safety, home and possessions are at risk. Act now.”
Winds of up to 70mph will also batter the coast tomorrow – with 60mph possible inland – as the storm moves northeast across much of the UK from Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning.
But Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said the Republic of Ireland would be hit hardest by the wind.
Jorge is the third named storm in recent weeks – and the wild weather has produced the second-wettest month on record, with 179.3mm falling by 25 February. Some areas have been deluged by a month’s rain in 24 hours.
This weekend’s fresh rain could break the February all-time record of 193.4mm set in 1990.
Flooding also forced people in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley to evacuate yesterday after the river spilled over barriers, and East Yorkshire residents were evacuated from the village of East Cowick after the River Aire broke its banks.
Some 79 “immediate action” flood warnings and 121 flood alerts remain in place in England.
The government has been criticised for being slow to send a minister to the flood-hit areas.
Visiting Ironbridge on Thursday, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the delay in going to the town was so emergency services could “deal with the immediate impacts” of the floods.
He also said the prime minister had not visited because he had “made it clear he wanted me to lead on this”, adding: “I have kept him regularly informed with what is happening.”
Boris Johnson declined to confirm on Thursday whether he would visit those made homeless and instead said flood defence was a “massive issue” for the UK and that the government would give another £4bn to address it.
(c) Sky News 2020: UK weather: Forecasters warn Storm Jorge is ‘not good news’ for flood-hit areas
