Yellow Warnings Issued as Storm Herminia Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to the UK

Yellow weather warnings have been issued across parts of the UK as Storm Herminia arrives, following the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn last week. The Met Office warns of potential injuries, flooding, and “danger to life” due to heavy rain and high winds.

While Monday’s warnings initially targeted much of England, heavy rain and strong winds are also forecast for Northern Ireland, Wales, and southern Scotland. Gusts of up to 70 mph are expected along exposed coasts, with inland areas likely to see speeds of up to 50 mph.

Key warnings in place include:

• Yellow wind warning: Covers Wales and southern England until 6:00 AM on Tuesday.
• Yellow rain warning: For the West Midlands and most of Wales until 11:59 PM on Monday, with forecasts of 20-40 mm of rainfall widely, rising to 50-70 mm on higher ground.

Disruption and Damage

Storm Herminia has already caused:

• Power outages for thousands of households in south-west England.
• Flooding in Somerset, where supermarket staff were forced to clear water from a store.
• Transport disruption, with National Rail advising passengers using ScotRail, Transport for Wales, and other services to check schedules before traveling.

On Sunday, wind gusts reached 83 mph in Berry Head, Devon, and 81 mph in Capel Curig, North Wales.

Recent Incidents

• Rescue operations: Seven American students stranded on a tidal island in western Wales were rescued by RNLI volunteers in stormy conditions.
• International impact: Heavy rains and gusts exceeding 62 mph in Spain and western France have submerged cars and buildings, while a British sailor remains missing off the French coast after his yacht was discovered severely damaged.

Aftermath of Storm Éowyn

Herminia’s arrival comes in the wake of Storm Éowyn, which caused significant destruction last week. Éowyn, described as “probably the strongest storm to hit the UK in 10 years,” brought rare red weather warnings and left a trail of devastation, including:

• Two fatalities from fallen trees in Scotland and Ireland.
• Widespread power outages: Nearly a million properties across the UK and Ireland lost power, with thousands still disconnected.
• Blocked roads and railways: Transport infrastructure was severely affected, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Source: BBC