The Met Office has said Oldham homes are ‘likely to be flooded’ after increasing Oldham’s weather warning from ‘yellow’ to ‘amber’ as Storm Babet batters the country.
The previous yellow weather warning, which spans from 6pm today to 6am on Saturday, remains in effect, alongside an increased warning from tomorrow, which forecasters say could cause a ‘danger to life’.
The amber rain warning, issued this morning, is in effect from noon tomorrow until 6am on Saturday.
The weather agency has warned that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads, with fast-flowing or deep floodwater possible.
According to the Met Office, an increase in heavy rain across the globe is linked to climate change, with warmer air able to hold more water.
We have the latest updates in our live blog as Storm Babet batters Oldham.
In parts of Scotland, a rare 'red' warning has been issued - meaning that 'exceptional rainfall' is 'expected to cause severe flooding and disruption'. It’s the first red warning for rain issued in the UK since Storm Dennis in February 2020.
In Ireland, members of the army had to support evacuations in some areas as homes and businesses were damaged by flooding. Cork County Council said more than a month’s worth of rain fell in the space of 24 hours, leading to unprecedented flooding, saturated land and high river levels across the county.
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According to the Met Office, this is what to expect while the amber warning is in effect in Oldham:
- Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings.
- Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing danger to life.
- A possibility that some communities will be cut off by flooded roads.
- Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely.
- Spray and flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
- Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses possible.
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Yesterday, Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “Confidence has increased in the chances of considerable impacts from rainfall in parts of the east of Scotland from Storm Babet, which has resulted in the escalation to the Red warning.
“100-150mm of rain is expected to fall quite widely within the warning period, with some locations likely to see 200-250mm, which is expected to cause considerable impacts with flooding likely.
“Storm Babet will track gradually northwards in the coming days, and although the most significant impacts are expected within the Red and Amber warning areas, there will still be wider impacts for much of the UK from this wind and rain.”
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