Met Office warn of ‘danger to life’ amid Storm Bram

The Met Office has issued a “danger to life” rain weather warning in parts of Wales and South West England amid Storm Bram.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to cause disruption across parts of the UK later on Monday and into Tuesday, forecasters have warned.

An amber rain weather warning has been issued in parts of South Wales and the South West of England as the Met Office warned that some homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and potentially damaged, while some communities could be cut off due to flooded roads.

The Met Office said that fast flowing floodwater is likely in the affected areas, causing challenging conditions and a “danger to life”.

The forecaster said that power cuts are also “likely”, and spray and flooding may lead to road closures and difficult driving conditions.

They warned of travel disruption on Tuesday morning and said to prepare to avoid travelling by road.

The forecaster further advised people in the areas covered by the amber rain warning to prepare a flood kit, containing insurance and any other important documents, a torch and spare batteries, a first aid kit and prescription medicines.

The kit should also contain supplies for looking after family members or pets, as well as warm and waterproof clothes, blankets, and food and water, the Met Office said.

The amber rain warning covers parts of South Wales and parts of the South West of England, mostly covering Dartmoor in Devon.

The forecasters said around 100mm of rain could fall in some locations with 50 to 75mm of rain expected across much of the warning area.

The warning starts from 00.00 and ends at 10.00 on Tuesday.

The Met Office issued an amber wind warning over north-west Scotland, where some places may experience gusts of up to 90mph on Tuesday night.

Flying debris could result in a danger to life while damage to buildings and homes is possible, it said.

On its website, the Met Office advised people to prepare to protect their homes and plan to secure loose items including bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences.

The warning starts at 16.00 on Tuesday and will end at 23.59.

Network Rail has advised passengers in Scotland to plan ahead and check their journeys before travelling on Tuesday.

Transport Scotland said the conditions caused by Storm Bram are likely to cause disruption to road, rail, air and ferry travel.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop urged people to “plan ahead” if they need to travel, adding: “The high winds are likely to impact other modes of transport, so if you are planning to travel by train, ferry or air, please check with your operator to see if your service has been affected.”

Yellow weather warnings are covering multiple other parts of the UK.

The Met Office said rain and wind may bring flooding and travel disruption across the country.