Bert – Hoang Viet

Nov 26 2024

Met Office says it is ‘committed to learning the lessons’ of Storm Bert after criticism but defends forecasts | UK News

The Met Office has said it is “committed to learning the lessons from Storm Bert” after criticism of its weather forecasts.

The weather service also defended itself, pointing out that “observed rainfall totals were broadly in line with the forecast and the severe weather warnings issued in advance”.

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Through the end of last week and into the weekend, the storm brought torrential rain and winds over 80mph to parts of the UK.

At least four people have died since Storm Bert began, leaving communities badly flooded and turning roads into rivers.

It brought a month’s worth of rain in one weekend to parts of the UK, with the hills of South Wales the worst hit.

‘Incompetence’

In the House of Commons, on Monday, ministers were told that “incompetence” at the Met Office led to an underestimation of the storm.

Labour MP for Cardiff West Alex Barros-Curtis claimed warnings should have been “amber or red”.

He said: “Can I ask that the secretary of state [Environment Secretary Steve Reed] speak to his Department for Science, Innovation and Technology colleagues to carefully look into the role of the Met Office here?

“It is clear that their response was slow and that there was a clear underestimation of the impact of Storm Bert.

“They put it yellow rather than amber or red. Our constituents have been let down by this incompetence before, and it cannot keep happening.”

However, in response to this and other criticism, Met Office services director Simon Brown said that rainfall levels were “within the expected range of that forecast”.

He added that the warnings in place also highlighted the danger from the floods and outlined how “many factors” play a role in their warning strategy.

Mr Brown continued: “I’m committed to learning the lessons from Storm Bert to support even greater preparedness and we will be reviewing our warning strategy and how this linked to flood models in the coming weeks and days.

“Today my team and I have been working with stakeholder, partners and customers to start to review Storm Bert.”

Weather forecast

Extreme weather events like Storm Bert are becoming more common with human-induced climate change, studies show.

Provisional statistics show that White Barrow, in Devon, experienced the most rainfall during Storm Bert with 175.7mm (6.91″) between 23 November and midnight 25 November.

Treherbert, Tyn-Y-Waun in South Wales recorded 171.6mm (6.76″) at a Natural Resources Wales rain gauge over the same period and winds of 82mph were recorded in Capel Curig, Gwynedd.

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Storm Bert will slowly “pull away” from the UK on Tuesday, the Met Office said, but the risk of flooding may remain.

It is expected to be largely drier and sunnier – with some showers in Northern Ireland, northern England and on western coasts.

However, on Wednesday, an area of low pressure is set to move into southern parts of the UK bringing back more heavy rain.

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Nov 23 2024

Storm Bert: Snow, rain and wind as weather warnings cover most of UK | UK News

Snow, rain and strong winds are expected to disrupt travel plans and potentially cause flooding as Storm Bert hits the UK.

Several weather warnings are in place, while 16 flood alerts have been issued – warning flooding is possible – in England and Scotland.

Most of the UK is affected by yellow warnings for either wind, rain or snow, with a slightly more severe amber warning covering parts of northern England and central Scotland.

Two areas of Ireland have been issued a rare red warning for heavy rain until 10am.

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London, East Anglia, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Hull and swathes of the Midlands are the only parts with no current warnings in place.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern described a “multiple hazard event” going into Saturday morning.

“We’ll see two to four hours of heavy snow across parts of northern England and Scotland during Saturday morning,” he said.

“This snow will accumulate thick and fast, with five to 10cm at lower levels and as much as 20 to 40cm over hills accompanied by strong winds.

“You can expect blizzards over hills across northern England and Scotland, atrocious conditions for travelling and going over the hills and also the risk of power interruptions because of snow build up on power lines.

“So all in all, a multiple hazard event as we go into Saturday morning.”

Temperatures will rise quickly as the storm brings milder air from the Atlantic, he said, resulting in a “rapid thaw” by the afternoon.

Where the warnings are and when

South coast – A yellow warning for wind is in place for the entire south coast of England from 3pm until 9pm, with a slight chance of damage to buildings and power cuts.

Southwest – From 6am, a yellow warning for rain is in place in the southwest of England, from Cornwall up to Oxford and stretching to Portsmouth. This is in place until 11.45pm.

Wales – Heavy rain is likely to cause some travel disruption, particularly in South Wales, with a yellow warning across the country lasting 24 hours from 6am.

Northern Ireland – A yellow warning for rain and snow kicked in at midnight and lasts until 11am, likely affecting journey times on roads and rails.

Midlands, north and Scotland – A yellow warning for rain and snow reaching from Stoke and Nottingham up to all of Scotland started at 4am and stays in place until 9am. Manchester, Liverpool and Hull are not affected.

Southern Scotland – An amber warning for snow starts at 7am and ends at midday, covering the Pennines, Yorkshire Dales and some southern parts of Scotland.

Central Scotland – Parts of central Scotland can expect some heavy snowfall, with an amber warning for snow and ice from 7am until 5pm over Aberfeldy and surrounding areas, northwest of Perth and Dundee.

East and west coasts – From 5am until 7pm, a yellow warning for wind covers the entire eastern coasts of Scotland and northern England, down to Grimsby.

The same warning covers much of the western coastline from Wales up to northern Scotland, though Manchester and Liverpool are not included.

What the weather warnings mean

• Yellow – people are advised to check the details of the forecast and consider extra steps to minimise any impact, while disruption is likely, particularly for travel;
• Amber – disruption is more likely and more widespread and people are advised to change plans impacted by weather;
• Red – reserved for very dangerous weather that can pose a danger to life and cause substantial travel disruption.

Travel disruption

While airports are not expecting disruption, rail companies have announced service changes over the weekend.

In Scotland, there will be speed restrictions on the West Highland Line, Highland Mainline, Stranraer Line, Glasgow South Western Line, Far North Line, and West Coast Mainline between Carstairs and the border.

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ScotRail has also withdrawn services from Inverness to Elgin, Aberdeen to Inverurie, and Glasgow Queen Street to Oban.

The TransPennine Express, meanwhile, “strongly” urged customers not to travel north of Carlisle on Saturday and Avanti West Coast advised against travel north of Preston.

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