Storm Chandra has brought severe flooding and travel disruption across the UK, with a 'danger to life' warning issued for parts of Devon. The Environment Agency reported that the River Otter at Fenny Bridges reached a record high of 2.83m on Tuesday morning, surpassing the previous record set in December 2000. A severe flood warning was issued but later lifted as water levels fell.
Police in Devon advised against travel in affected areas, while firefighters rescued 25 people from vehicles trapped in floodwater. No casualties were reported. The Met Office has yellow warnings for wind and rain across many regions, including Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and southwest England, with further warnings for ice on Wednesday.
In Northern Ireland, over 300 schools closed, and flights were cancelled at Belfast City and Belfast International airports. Ferry operator Stena Line cancelled several sailings between Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan, Dublin, Holyhead, Fishguard, and Rosslare. In the Republic of Ireland, around 20,000 homes, farms, and businesses lost power.
The Met Office warned that heavy rain could turn to snow on high ground in parts of Scotland, potentially causing transport and power disruption. Yellow ice warnings are in place for much of the UK on Wednesday morning, with patchy ice likely on untreated surfaces.
