Flights, trains and ferries were cancelled and hundreds of properties left without power across the UK and Ireland after Storm Bram brought heavy rain and strong winds.
By lunchtime on Tuesday there were more than 300 flood warnings or alerts across the UK and in part of south-west England. People were asked not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Large waves whipped up by Storm Bram crash against the Cobb harbour wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset. Photograph: Graham Hunt/Alamy Live News/Alamy Live News.
UK Met Office amber weather warnings – the second most severe – were in place for north-west Scotland and Northern Ireland, where gusts of up to 90mph were predicted. The warning for Scotland was beginning at 2pm and ending at 7pm on Tuesday; the Northern Ireland warning covered 4pm on Tuesday to 3am on Wednesday.
In addition, there were six yellow warnings for rain and wind in place for much of England and Wales, while Met Éireann, the Irish national meteorological service, published a red marine warning for storm-force winds.
A driver was pulled from her submerged car after it was swept about 40 metres downstream from a flooded ford near Ringwood in Hampshire. As she attempted to reverse out, the surging water dragged her Ford Focus down the stream. A member of the public helped get the woman out of the car.
Four people were also helped from cars in Thornford, Dorset, after a number of vehicles became stuck on a flooded road.
Up to 75mm of rain was expected across some areas of south-west England and south Wales with as much as 100mm in exposed places.
Waves crash up against Porthcawl breakwater and lighthouse in south Wales. Photograph: Joann Randles/HIVE INSIDER
Great Western Railway said it expected flooding to “significantly affect” its services on Tuesday. Trains between London and south-west England and Wales were being cancelled, delayed or diverted. In Cornwall, the line between Par and Newquay was closed due to flooding.
Devon and Cornwall police asked people only to travel if necessary. It said: “We’re already receiving lots of calls about incidents on roads across Devon and Cornwall this morning. Please only travel if absolutely necessary; drive at an appropriate speed and allow extra distance between other vehicles.”
Firefighters in Devon rescued two people from the roof of their car after it became stranded in flood water at 6.45am on Tuesday in the village of Teigngrace on the River Teign near Newton Abbot. Both people were “safe and well”.
A tree blown down in the Lenaghmore area of Cork. Photograph: Noel Sweeney/PA
Part of the M66 in Greater Manchester was shut following flooding and a crash involving multiple vehicles, while the M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions.
Thousands of households in south-west England, the Midlands and Wales were without power.
Transport for Wales said the line between Abercynon and Aberdare in south Wales was shut due to severe flooding, with rail replacement coaches operating instead.
Flooding in York. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA
Network Rail Scotland said some train services were suspended while the west coast ferry operator CalMac said all its routes were affected by cancellations or disruptions.
On Tuesday morning, more than 40 flights were cancelled at Dublin airport due to strong winds.
The M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions due to strong winds. Photograph: Zoe Head-Thomas/PA
Extreme rainfall is more common and more intense because of human-caused climate breakdown, particularly in Europe, most of Asia, central and eastern North America, and parts of South America, Africa and Australia. Warmer air can hold more water vapour.
A worker works on a flood barrier defence system in Galway, Ireland Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Flooding has probably become more frequent and severe in these locations as a result but is also affected by human factors such as the existence of flood defences and land use.
Charlotte Morgan, Natural Resources Wales’s duty tactical manager, said the rain was falling on saturated ground and rivers were already swollen.
A van drives through deep flood water at Burton Bradstock in Dorset. Photograph: Graham Hunt/Alamy Live News/Alamy Live News.
She said: “We’re urging people to be vigilant and to make preparations for potential flooding now. You can check if you live in an area at risk of flooding on our website and sign up for our free flood warning service.”
A new non-profit initiative called Flooded People UK said people in areas prone to flooding were exhausted.
Louis Ramirez, co-director of the initiative offering support through an online mutual aid network, said: “Storm Bram follows a period of very elevated rainfall in Wales and parts of England. Some communities we are working with are seeing almost weekly flood alerts. This is placing people previously affected by flooding under huge strain.”
