The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain covering the entire south coast of England from 5am to midnight on Saturday. The warning stretches from Land's End in Cornwall to the White Cliffs of Dover, affecting Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, and Sussex.
According to the Met Office, a spell of heavy rain early Saturday will clear northwards but be followed by frequent heavy and blustery showers. These are likely to be focused in southern and southeastern coastal counties by afternoon, with possible thunderstorms. Rainfall of 15-25mm is expected in some places, with up to 30-40mm in coastal southeast England. Additional hazards include large waves and spray along southern coasts.
As of 10:30am Friday, 67 flood warnings and 209 flood alerts remain in place across the UK following Storm Ciarán. The storm brought gusts of up to 100mph and heavy rain to the south coast and Channel Islands on Thursday, leaving nearly 150,000 homes without power. By 4pm Thursday, around 11,300 properties were still without electricity, while 135,700 had been reconnected, according to the Energy Networks Association.
One fatality has been recorded in the UK: a woman died in Plymouth after her car was flooded. Across Europe, Storm Ciarán has claimed 12 lives, including deaths in France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy. The storm initially made landfall in Devon and Cornwall on Wednesday night and was estimated to be around 300 miles wide.
The Met Office has denied rumours that a new storm named Debi is on the way, stating that upcoming weather is not expected to be strong enough to be named. Dozens of schools remain closed in Devon, Cornwall, and Hampshire, with some staying shut until next week.
