NI weather warning as Storm Francis closes in

Up to 90mm of rain is expected to fall in Northern Ireland and south west Scotland as Storm Francis sweeps across the UK on Tuesday.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Aug 2020, 19:11 BST
A cyclist on the shoreline in Saltcoats on the west coast of North Ayrshire as Storm Ellen brought gusts of up to 70mph last week.A cyclist on the shoreline in Saltcoats on the west coast of North Ayrshire as Storm Ellen brought gusts of up to 70mph last week.
A cyclist on the shoreline in Saltcoats on the west coast of North Ayrshire as Storm Ellen brought gusts of up to 70mph last week.

Winds of up to 70mph are also expected in coastal areas leading the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning.

Storm Francis comes just days after Storm Ellen caused widespread travel disruption and power cuts to many parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland,

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The torrential raid is expected to last until lunchtime on Wednesday leaving a brighter and more settled outlook for the remainder of Wednesday

Nicola Maxey of the Met Office said: “Since 2015 when we started naming storms, we have never had to name a storm in August – and now we’ve had two in a few days.

“There are a lot of people on holiday in the UK at the moment, going camping and on walking breaks, many in coastal locations where the winds are likely to be stronger, so it is worth checking on the Met Office website ahead of time.”

Chief meteorologist Andy Page said: “The UK is in for another unseasonably wet and windy spell with Storm Francis arriving on Tuesday. There will be strong winds and heavy rain, especially in the west of the UK.”

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Forecasters said the winds were “unusual” for August, but would have to go some way to beat the current record wind gust speed of 87mph recorded at The Needles on the Isle of Wight in August 1996.

Likewise, the wettest August on record in the UK was in 1912 when 167.3 mm was recorded across the country as a whole.

Between August 1 and 22, the UK as a whole had seen some 72.7mm of rainfall – around four-fifths of the average rainfall for the month.

The RAC has urged drivers not to drive through flood water unless sure of the depth.

No new storm is currently forecast this month, meaning the next storm will begin with “A” rather than “G”, as the storm-naming calendar resets on September 1.

Related topics:ScotlandMet OfficeRepublic of Ireland