Perilous
Times
Wild and Wicked Winter storms to batter Britain all week
Jonathan Brown
Wednesday 14 December 2011
High winds and heavy rain battered South Wales, Northern Ireland
and the South-west of England yesterday as one of the most
unsettled periods of weather in recent years continued.
The Met Office had weather warnings in place for much of Britain,
with more torrential rain and gusts of up to 80mph expected to
blow in from the Atlantic by tomorrow. It said up to 10cm (3.9in)
of snow could fall on high ground in Scotland, disrupting road and
rail travel. The chief Met Office forecaster, Tim Hewson, said:
"There is some uncertainty... for later in the week but there is
potential for a significant storm. We are keeping a close eye on
the situation."
A clear-up operation was under way in parts of England and Wales
yesterday after overnight storms led to homes being left without
power and cross-Channel ferries being cancelled. An RAF helicopter
rescued a walker who fell 20ft at Llysfaen, near Colwyn Bay.
The highest wave ever measured in Irish waters – 20.4 metres
(67ft) – was recorded off the coast of Donegal. A man had a lucky
escape when a 60ft beech tree crashed into his bungalow in
Winchester. Richard Wilkinson, 65, will need surgery after a tonne
of timber came through the roof and hit his bed.
Mr Wilkinson, a former British ambassador to Venezuela and Chile,
said: "I was between sleeping and awake, listening to the storm
outside when there was an enormous crash, like the Eiffel Tower
falling into the Crystal Palace. I felt a blow to the side of my
head, there was blood in my ear and I knew what had happened."
Hampshire Police received 206 emergency calls in 24 hours. Up to
40mm of rain caused floods in Devon and Cornwall, and high winds
forced the closure of the Tamar Bridge at Saltash.
London received 40 per cent of its average December rainfall in 12
hours.
Weather report: Five-day forecast
Today A cold and icy to start to the day in many parts of Britain
and it will remain windy in the West. There will be heavy wintry
showers in Scotland and southern Britain, but it should be bright
or sunny elsewhere.
Tomorrow Another cold start and possible severe weather in central
and southern England by late afternoon. Gusts of up to 80mph and
heavy rain could cause flooding.
Friday The storms are expected to ease by morning.
Saturday It will be cold with wintry sunshine and showers.
Sunday Still unsettled with showers falling as snow on hills.