Severe weather conditions are to hiting parts of the UK and Ireland as Storm Babet makes its arrival. The Met Office has issued a rare red warning for “exceptional and persistent” rain in eastern Scotland, with amber and yellow warnings for wind and rain in other areas. This red alert is the first of its kind since Storm Dennis in February 2020.
Storm Babet, a complex area of low pressure, is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, power cuts, and travel disruption until Saturday. Yellow severe weather warnings have been issued throughout the week, covering already-saturated regions of Scotland and northern and eastern England. Met Eireann, the Irish forecasting agency, has also issued yellow and amber weather warnings for parts of Northern Ireland.
The town of Midleton in County Cork has been severely impacted by the adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Babet. Ongoing flooding has made the town impassable for traffic, leading to a deployment of the Defence Forces to provide support. Over 100 properties have been flooded, and a rest center has been set up at the town’s community center to assist evacuees. A local hospital in the area had to be evacuated as well.
Cork County Council has established a Coordination Centre at the town’s fire station to manage the situation, and a Severe Weather Assessment Team will convene to assess the extent of the damage. Mayor Cllr Frank O’Flynn expressed concern over the impact despite the council’s efforts to mitigate the effects, noting that the town had experienced a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours.
The flooding has also affected other areas in Cork County, including Whitegate, Rathcormac, Glandore, Ringaskiddy, Carrigaline, Raffeen, Halfway, Casteltownbere, Killeagh, and Youghal. In Cork City, Blackpool has been closed off due to flooding, with properties evacuated in various locations. Roads in Ballyvolane, Blarney, Carrigrohane, Tower, and Glanmire are currently impassable.
Authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to exercise extreme caution when on the roads, particularly for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. The situation is being closely monitored, and local councils and emergency services are working tirelessly to provide assistance and support to those affected by Storm Babet’s impact.
