LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Storm Franklin is expected to reach the United Kingdom, prompting an amber weather warning for Northern Ireland and hundreds of flood alerts across the country.
The amber warning is in effect from 12 a.m. until 7 a.m. on Monday, with alerts also in effect for counties on Ireland’s west coast. Winds of up to 80 miles per hour are forecast.
Two “serious” flood warnings have been issued by environmental agencies, indicating that rains might pose a “risk to life” for towns along the Mersey River in Greater Manchester.
Flooding is “likely” in 88 regions, mostly in the west and north of England, and “possible” in other 137 areas in the north-western portion of the UK, London, and the south coast, according to the Environment Agency.
According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, there are 23 flood warnings and seven alerts in effect over the Western Isles, Orkney, Ayrshire and the Scottish Borders.
Natural Resources Wales has issued 18 flood warnings and 35 alerts for the majority of Wales.
Heavy rain is expected on Sunday and Monday, according to the Met Office, with “flying debris” posing a risk to people’s lives.
dFranklin will bring “gale force westerly winds with severe and damaging gusts, mixed with very high seas,” according to Met Eireann.
Two further Met Office weather warnings are in effect:
- A yellow rain warning is in effect for Cumbria, West Yorkshire, and Lancashire until 6 p.m. on Sunday, with the possibility of flooding and hazardous driving conditions.
- A yellow wind warning is in effect for most of Wales and England from midday Sunday to 1pm Monday, with potential for disruption and damage.
According to meteorologist Becky Mitchell, it has happened for the first time that the Met Office has had to name three storms in a week’s time since the implementation of the current system.
She said, “We had Dudley on Wednesday, Eunice on Friday, and Franklin today.”
Ms Mitchell explained that the sequence is necessary because “we’ve got an extremely active jet stream, which is why we’re seeing so many storms track right into the UK.”
Because the heaviest gusts would be restricted to the coast, the damage from Franklin is not expected to be “as catastrophic” as that inflicted by Eunice, Ms Mitchell added.
However, the weather could still be “dangerous,” with up to 80mm of rain expected in northwest England.
