Storm Antoni causes accident surge in Devon as winds hit 55mph
Storm Antoni has caused a road accident every seven minutes as wind and rain batter south west of England.
Four weather warnings were in place on Saturday following the Met Office’s announcement that the “worst storm of the year” would hit Britain over the weekend.
The forecaster stated that Antoni posed a danger to life, with millions facing travel chaos.
Devon and Cornwall police reported dealing with a road incident every few minutes as a consequence of the conditions.
A police spokesman said: “We’ve had 23 road accidents in the last three hours, with around half due to trees falling and the other half involving collisions. It’s been a busy day.”
#StormAntoni[1] brings an unsettled start to the weekend
🌧️ Heavy rain for Northern Ireland first thing on Saturday will then push across Wales and England
🌬️ Gales, locally severe, developing for parts of southern Wales and England
🌦️ Sharp showers bubbling up across Scotland pic.twitter.com/olRn4XJMHS[2]
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 4, 2023[3]
A nurse has criticised the emergency response to his town being flooded.
Paul Jones-King, 47, who has lived in Loftus, North Yorkshire, for 18 years, said he is “angry” and “frustrated” after his home was flooded on Saturday due to the town’s drainage system, which is “not able to cope” with heavy rainfall.
Mr Jones-King said this is the second time in three years that the town has suffered with flooding due to rain.
“I just want to cry to be honest with you,” he said. “I’m a nurse, I finished a night shift this morning, was sat having a cup of coffee before I was due to go to bed, and literally within 10 minutes your house is flooding.
“Everyone is just arguing among themselves, no one has done anything, and we’ve flooded again.”
Mr Jones-King estimated that around 20 properties in the area have been flooded. He said: “It really is down to the Environment Agency to come up with a solution rather than just saying, ‘unfortunately you’re in a flooded area’.
“It’s a real poor response from the council. There’s no support, they’ve dumped some bags, and that’s it, they’ve gone. Delivering sandbags seven hours after an event is just a complete waste of time.”
Redcar and Cleveland council said: “The council responded immediately when called out and a crew was deployed by early morning. Further crews were mobilised throughout the morning.”
Traffic battles through heavy rain in South East London
A fallen tree on the road to Veryan on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall
Credit: David Davies/PA
The second day of the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe where festival spectators watch the show jumping in the rain
Credit: David Hartley- Press Photos Ltd
As part of this unseasonal weather, Yorkshire is facing 16 hours of constant rain, and eight people have been evacuated from their homes in Dublin due to flooding. One person was hospitalised, according to the Dublin Fire Brigade.
A yellow warning is in effect across much of south Wales and Devon, with a more severe amber warning in place in the eye of the storm. Gusts of up to 70 mph were predicted, with the potential for trucks to be overturned. Campers were also warned about the increased likelihood of trees being ripped out of the ground by gales.
Simon Partridge, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Rain started arriving in the early hours, and it is expected to be heavy and prolonged across much of the country.
“Driving conditions will be very poor due to low visibility, so people should take care when out and about.”
He added: “It’s a changeover day for holidaymakers, and the winds are hitting hard. Trucks, lorries, and other high-sided vehicles are the most vulnerable. The amber warning indicates a danger to life.”
Walkers brave the rain on Waterloo Bridge in London
Credit: Alex Lentati/LNP
Bridge crossings may be halted as winds pick up
Credit: George Cracknell Wright
The RAC warned that Saturday would be the “worst day on the roads of the summer so far” and estimated that four million motorists would be on the highways for leisure trips this weekend.
Rod Dennis, from the automotive group said: “Conditions will be atrocious with a wholly unpleasant mix of very strong winds and locally intense rainfall. Drivers towing caravans and trailers need to be particularly careful in these conditions, and those with boxes and bikes on the roof should double-check they’re secured properly.
“Drivers should also watch out for fallen trees and be prepared for the disruptions they cause. Nationally, we estimate around four million drivers will be using the roads for leisure journeys throughout the entire weekend.”
People dress in rain ponchos as they head to Brighton and Hove Pride on Saturday
Credit: Leon Neal
Antoni is the first named storm of the season, which runs from September 2022 to August 2023.
The agency names storms based on the level of impact they will have on UK citizens.
Antoni is the third named summer storm on record and the first named storm since February 2022.
Few parts of the UK will be unaffected as low pressure persists after the sixth-wettest July in history.
References
- ^ #StormAntoni (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/olRn4XJMHS (t.co)
- ^ August 4, 2023 (twitter.com)