Wind and rain warnings issued as Storm Benjamin hits UK

Rain and wind warnings have come into force in parts of the UK as Storm Benjamin moves towards the country.

Travelers were warned of heavy rain and winds of up to 112 kilometers per hour on Thursday.

Power cuts, localized flooding, building damage and travel disruption are possible, according to the Met Office.

Four yellow weather alerts Named by French weather service Météo France, Storm Benjamin covers large areas of southern and eastern England and Wales as it moves from the English Channel to the North Sea throughout the day.

A yellow rain warning covering much of the south of England, the East Midlands, parts of Wales and Yorkshire will be in force until 18:00 GMT, with rainfall expected to increase to 30-50mm in some places.

The south-east coast experienced the most rain in the 24 hours to 03:00, with Pevensey in East Sussex recording 40mm.

A yellow rain warning will be in place for much of East Anglia and Lincolnshire until 9pm, and a yellow wind warning will be in place for these areas and much of south-east England until midnight.

The Met Office said strong winds were expected to develop in Kent and Sussex, with gusts of 65-70mph expected “near the coasts”.

Winds in excess of 70 mph may develop along the North Sea coast for a brief period in the late morning or early afternoon.

A yellow wind warning was also in place for south-west and west Wales, including Cornwall and Devon, between 06:00 BST and 15:00 BST.

Northwesterly winds are possible in both areas, reaching speeds of up to 55 mph, while some coastal areas could be affected by winds up to 60 mph.

Heavier rain and winds will hit Western Europe, including France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The Europa League has confirmed that the start times of two matches scheduled for Thursday have been brought forward.

Dutch side Feyenoord will face Greece’s Panathinaikos in Rotterdam at 16:30 local time (15:30 BST), two hours and 15 minutes earlier than planned.

UEFA also announced The Conference League match to be played between Dutch team AZ Alkmaar and ŠK Slovan Bratislava on Thursday was postponed from 21:00 to 18:45 local time.

The storm was not expected to be severe enough for the Met Office to name this weather system.

However, large parts of northern and western France are forecast to bear the brunt of the severe weather, prompting Météo France, the equivalent of the Met Office, to name this storm Benjamin, warning of some damage and travel disruption.

Orange warnings, the next stage of a yellow warning, have been issued for seven areas along the Atlantic coast and the English Channel.

Once the weather agency makes the decision to name a storm, a consensus is reached that all nations use the same name to ensure the impacts are communicated consistently and more clearly.

Benjamin will not replace Bram on the list of Britain’s named storms.