The UK is experiencing severe weather with gusts of up to 78mph, prompting a yellow weather warning that covers almost all of England and Wales until 6pm on Monday. Dozens of homes have lost power due to damage to overhead lines, and heavy rain in Swansea has submerged cars, with one man even seen paddle boarding across a roundabout.
Despite being dubbed 'Storm Amy' on social media, the Met Office has confirmed the storm is not severe enough to be officially named. Spokesperson Graham Madge stated, 'There is no intention to name it, as of now. It's the sort of weather that we do expect at this time of year.' The first named storm of the season will be Amy, but this system does not meet the criteria.
In Devon, 44 properties lost power due to a fault in overhead lines near Chagford. National Grid Electricity Distribution said engineers are working to restore supplies as quickly as possible. Major tourist attractions, including Dartmoor Zoo and St Michael's Mount, closed as a precaution due to adverse weather and sea conditions.
The Met Office reported the strongest gusts so far at the Needles on the Isle of Wight (78mph), with Aberdaron in Gwynedd (66mph) and Capel Curig in Conwy (59mph) also affected. Coastal areas are bracing for strong waves and transport delays. Drivers have been urged to take care, especially on exposed roads like those over the moors in Devon and Cornwall.
The strong gales are expected to ease by Monday evening, with calmer conditions from Tuesday. However, another weather front could bring more wind to coastal areas by Wednesday, potentially with even stronger gusts. The RAC advised drivers to reduce speeds and pass high-sided vehicles with care.
