80mph storms to blow through Britain
Pastor Dale Morgan
80mph storms to blow through Britain*
By Amy Iggulden
Last Updated: 2:33am GMT 16/01/2007
Parts of Britain will be battered by gales of up to 80mph this week, the
Meteorological Office warned yesterday.
Winds of 60mph are expected to sweep across the south, while exposed
areas in Wales and the north of England could see violent gales of up to
80mph that will bring down roof tiles, branches and even trees.
A flooded car park in Shrewsbury; severe weather, storms
St Julian's car park in Shrewsbury is closed and the town prepares for
the worst as the River Severn bursts it's banks
The worst of the weather is expected on Wednesday night into Thursday.
Parts of the country are still below water after days of heavy rain
caused the rivers Severn and Avon to burst their banks.
But while exposed areas will suffer winds driven by low pressure moving
quickly in from the Atlantic, more secluded spots are still enjoying
some of the warmest winter weather on record.
Last year was the warmest across England since records began 350 years
ago, with an average daily temperature of 51.62F (10.9C).
The balmy days have kept hibernating animals such as bees and ladybirds
awake, and encouraged spring daffodils to bloom.
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Yesterday the confusion continued when a five-inch stick insect was seen
sunning itself in Devon, even as Worcestershire County Cricket club was
below water.
The insect is usually killed off by November's cold weather, but a lack
of frost has allowed it to flourish.
A gardener in New Milton, Hants, discovered a Red Admiral butterfly,
usually seen from spring into August.
A grass snake was also seen interrupting its hibernation with a trip
through snowdrops in a Hampshire wood.
Despite the pockets of balmy weather, however, much of Britain should
now expect a return to the violent gales that killed at least one man
last week, weather experts warned.
Philip Eden, the weather correspondent for The Daily Telegraph said:
"Thursday is the day when it will hit. After what we have had this month
it will be a real shock."