The Met Office has advised residents in parts of the UK to assemble an "emergency" flood kit as Storm Austen approaches, with yellow and amber weather warnings in place for wind and rain across the country.
Storm Austen is expected to hit Britain later today, bringing heavy rain and fierce winds on Friday and Saturday. The Met Office has issued yellow wind warnings for Wales and England, while an amber warning is in effect for the far south-west of England, where wind speeds could reach up to 80mph. Coastal areas under yellow warnings may see gusts of 70mph.
Rain Warning for Scotland
A yellow rain warning has been issued for parts of north-eastern, central and southern Scotland, running for 18 hours from 6am on Friday until midnight. Up to 80mm of rain could fall during this period. The warning highlights that flooding could cause serious damage to homes and businesses, along with train and bus cancellations. Treacherous driving conditions are expected, and power cuts remain a possibility.
The Met Office is urging those under the rain warning to consider drawing up a "flood plan and an emergency flood kit". Guidance on what to include in such a kit has been made available.
What to Include in an Emergency Flood Kit
- Insurance documents and a list of contact numbers.
- Torch and spare batteries.
- First aid kit and any prescription medicines.
- Warm waterproof clothes and blankets.
- Bottled water and snacks.
- Battery or wind-up radio.
- Supplies for looking after your baby or pet.
The yellow rain warning also advises residents to prepare for possible power cuts ahead of time. The Met Office states: "It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items."
Areas Covered by the Rain Warning
The rain warning covers 26 areas in Scotland, including Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, and West Lothian.
Storm Boelo on the Horizon
Looking ahead past Storm Austen, the Met Office predicts weather conditions are "expected to remain unsettled through the weekend and into next week". A second storm, Storm Boelo, has been designated, with fresh wind warnings issued for Saturday and Sunday covering Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England, where gusts could once again reach up to 80mph. The warnings take effect at 6pm on Saturday and remain in place until 9pm on Sunday.
