The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings as Storm Austen approaches, with households in 26 UK areas urged to prepare to turn off their gas, water and electricity supplies. The storm is forecast to bring severe gales of up to 70mph and persistent, heavy rain across large parts of the country late on Thursday and into Friday, with the wet and windy conditions expected to continue into the weekend and next week.
Warnings in force across the UK
An amber wind warning has been issued for the whole of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of West Devon on Thursday, while a wider yellow wind warning covers much of southern and eastern England, and Wales. A yellow rain warning is also in place for parts of southern and eastern Scotland on Friday.
The Met Office said Storm Austen will bring between 20 and 40mm of rain widely across the warning area before dawn on Friday, with 60 to 80mm possible in some locations, bringing flooding and travel disruption in some places.
Advice for households
Households within the warning area are being urged to prepare a flood plan, which includes turning off gas, water and electricity supplies. The Met Office also recommends preparing an emergency flood kit, charging mobile phones and storing valuables up high to avoid damage.
In its advice for staying safe in a thunderstorm, the Met Office said: “It's never too late to take action and prepare for flooding. Follow these six simple steps to protect your home or business: Check the flood advice in your area to know when and where flooding will happen; Charge mobile phone devices; Park your car outside the flood zone; Prepare a flood kit to help you cope in the event of flooding to your home and business; Store valuables up high, including electrical devices, important documents and furniture; Turn off gas, water and electricity supplies.”
Safety instructions
The Met Office added: “If you are trapped in a building by floodwater, follow these simple instructions to keep you and your family safe: Go to the highest level in the building you are in; Do not go into attic spaces to avoid being trapped by rising water; Only go to a roof if necessary; Call 999 and wait for help.”
People are advised to switch off gas, water and electricity supplies only if it is safe to do so, and not to touch an electrical switch while standing in water. The water stop tap is usually found inside the home where the water supply comes in, or outside close to the property’s boundary under a cover; the gas shut-off valve is next to the gas meter; and the mains electricity cut off is on the fuse board with a big on and off switch.
The National Grid says: “If flood water is about to enter your property, turn off your electricity supply using the isolator switch or fuse unit. Only attempt this if it's safe to do so, and never take any unnecessary risks. You can speak to your insurer or a qualified electrician if you need further advice. Your meter could be inside your property or outside in a dedicated meter cabinet. Never touch any electrical appliances, cables, or equipment while standing in floodwater. Please don't touch any appliances, cables, or equipment that has been touched by floodwater, as they may not be safe.”
Areas covered by the rain warning
The 26 areas covered by a yellow weather warning for rain from 6am on Friday until 3am on Saturday are: Central, Tayside & Fife (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling); Grampian (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray); Strathclyde (East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire); and SW Scotland, Lothian Borders (Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian).
