Storm Benjamin has triggered three yellow weather warnings as it threatens to unleash strong winds and heavy rain tomorrow – with flooding and damage to buildings possible
Britain is braced for chaos as Storm Benjamin unleashes winds exceeding 70mph and torrential rain, with forecasters warning of flooding, power cuts and travel disruption across large parts of the country.
The Met Office has issued multiple yellow weather warnings as the storm barrels towards the UK, bringing ferocious gusts and heavy downpours from the early hours of Thursday, October 23. A yellow warning for rain covers southern and eastern parts of Britain, while two yellow warnings for wind have been placed across eastern England, southwest England and parts of Wales.
The unsettled conditions are expected to intensify through the morning, with damage to buildings, falling debris and travel delays all possible, forecasters said.
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According to data from WXCharts, winds will begin strengthening from around 6am on Thursday, when the first powerful gusts sweep in from the English Channel. At that hour, maps turn red over parts of Kent, where speeds could reach an astonishing 80mph, while areas of Lincolnshire may see gusts of up to 75mph.
The early morning period is expected to bring some of the most violent gusts of the day. Alongside Kent and Lincolnshire, Norwich will also face punishing winds reaching close to 80mph at their maximum. Other inland areas such as Southampton, Oxford and Swindon will not escape the storm either, with forecasters warning of sustained gusts and heavy bursts of rain sweeping through during the morning commute.
The southwest and Wales will meanwhile face particularly strong gusts, where exposed coastal areas are likely to experience the full force of Storm Benjamin. In contrast, regions further north will remain slightly milder in terms of wind speed but turn noticeably colder, particularly across Scotland, where temperatures will dip as the storm system drags in cooler air from the north Atlantic.
By 12pm, conditions are set to worsen further. WXCharts data suggests winds could reach almost 90mph, with the lower half of the UK taking the brunt. This includes much of south Wales, the southwest, the southeast, and even London.
Areas from Manchester southwards are forecast to be repeatedly hit by strong winds throughout the afternoon, and by 3pm, little change is expected. The storm will continue to grip the southern half of Britain, with gusts remaining high and rainfall persisting in places already saturated from the morning.
By 6pm, the same regions will remain on alert, though stronger gusts – up to 88mph – are forecast to move further north, affecting Leeds, Bradford, and the Yorkshire Dales.
The final surge is predicted around 9pm, when the strongest winds return once more to the southeast. Forecasters predict wind speeds could be as high as 90mph in Norwich, Essex, Kent, and London, leaving both the southeast and northeast of England exposed to the storm’s most intense final blast.
Chief Met Office Meteorologist, Rebekah Hicks said there is a chance wind gusts could exceed 70mph for a time. “It is not until Thursday morning that significantly strong north-westerly winds will first begin to affect parts of the west with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, locally 55mph around coasts expected,” she said.
“At the same time, northerly winds are expected to develop more widely across eastern areas, with gusts of 50-60mph fairly widely and up to 70mph near some coasts. Should Storm Benjamin be at the stronger end of expectations, there is a small chance of wind gusts very locally exceeding 70mph for a time.
“It is worth noting that there is a greater than usual uncertainty surrounding the track and intensity of this low-pressure system, so the public should stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings as the situation evolves, with adjustments to the forecasts likely at short notice.”