Met Office urges Brits to stock up on 7 essentials in amber warning | Weather | News
The Met Office has issued a fresh yellow air warning for parts of the UK, along with a “danger to life” warning, and urged people to stock up on seven essential items. Heavy rain and storms threaten floods, power outages and life-threatening situations.
The 18-hour warning, which comes into force at midnight on Thursday, January 22 and runs until 6pm, covers parts of Scotland including Central, Tayside & Fife, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Grampian and Aberdeenshire, with forecasters warning some communities could be cut off by rising floodwaters. Britons have been told to prepare now as persistent, heavy rain is expected to lash eastern Scotland, causing serious travel disruption and risk of damage to homes and businesses. The Met Office said rainfall totals of 60mm to 80mm were expected across most of the warning area, with rainfall in excess of 100mm possible at higher elevations. In some places totals may exceed 150 mm since Wednesday evening.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Dan Harris said: “Rain will become increasingly persistent and heavy in parts of Scotland late on Wednesday and throughout much of Thursday. This is expected to lead to flooding in some places, some rivers will take longer to respond to the rainfall and could cause impacts to persist into Thursday.”
A yellow warning means there is a high risk of serious impact, including fast-moving floodwaters that could be life-threatening.
Brits are told what to expect
The Met Office warned people in affected areas to prepare for the following:
Train and bus delays or cancellations
Road closures and dangerous driving conditions
Some communities potentially cut off
Stock up on these essentials
Britons have been urged to prepare a flood kit which the Met Office says can help protect their home or business from loss or damage.
Flashlight and spare batteries
Insurance and important documents
Warm, waterproof clothing and blankets
Supplies for children and pets
Unstable conditions are expected to continue after Thursday, with forecasters warning that wetter and windier weather could arrive on Friday and continue into the weekend.
The Met Office has urged people to stay up to date with the latest warnings and forecasts and follow advice from emergency services and local authorities as conditions evolve.
