Storm Ciara: weather warnings issued in UK

Several flights to, from and within the UK have been cancelled and thousands of households sit without power as Storm Ciara rages on. UK Power Networks reported more than 18,500 properties across east and south-east England were still without power on Monday morning, while Western Power Distribution said more than 2,800 homes were in the dark, according to BBC.

Very big delays at airports around Europe because of #StormCiara

Number of cancellations
Heathrow – 472 flights
Gatwick – 333 flights
Amsterdam – 247 flights
Birmingham – 101 flights
Edinburgh – 85 flights
Manchester – 74 flights pic.twitter.com/sgQMtXJd2A

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 9, 2020

Airports have told travellers to check their flight with their airline and motorists have been urged to drive with extreme caution and only when absolutely necessary. Heavy rain, icey snow and gusts of up to 144km/h caused widespread flooding on Sunday.

‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ says Richard Moore, a Halifax local. ‘We’re just trying to avoid going anywhere.’

A senior meteorologist at the Met Office, Helena Roberts, said that Storm Ciara threatened to be ‘the worst this century’, rivalled only by the 19th December 2013 storm that caused widespread power cuts, according to The Telegraph. ‘It’s definitely the biggest storm in seven years and in terms of area affected it’s probably the biggest this century,’ she said.

Residents took to social media to share the effects of the storm, some managing to even find some humour.

Wow what an afternoon photographing Storm Ciara at Porthcawl again today. Waves coming in thick and fast and the size of them monsterous. #StormCiara pic.twitter.com/gIBEoBUsEq

— Michaela Ismail (@michaelaismail) February 9, 2020

Will Mary from number 32 please come and collect her grandchildren’s trampoline. Thank You #StormCíara pic.twitter.com/66PRGKGxW7

— JMD (@Johnmcdevitt69) February 9, 2020

this is calder valley, it is under water from one night of rain. we have flood defences in place in some areas, but it’s still not enough. families will loose their homes, business will suffer, people are stranded. this is the climate crisis in full force #StormCiara #calderdale pic.twitter.com/kYOQacxUKu

— charlotte ♡ (@charlottbeeden) February 9, 2020

Two casualties successfully rescued from a flooded house in Warwick Bridge this afternoon by Green Watch. Five ft deep water around the house made it a challenging job.#StormCiara pic.twitter.com/oeT8ItRpH9

— Carlisle West Fire Station (@FireCarlisle) February 9, 2020

While the worst is hopefully over, weather experts are expecting bad weather for the rest of the week with weather warnings in place until Wednesday, according to BBC. ‘While Storm Ciara is clearing away, that doesn’t mean we’re entering a quieter period of weather,’ said Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill. It’s going to stay very unsettled. We have got colder air coming through the UK and will be feeling a real drop in temperatures, with an increased risk of snow in northern parts of the UK and likely in Scotland. There could be up to 20cm (8inch) on Monday and Tuesday and with strong winds, blizzards aren’t out of the question.’

Image: Twitter/JamilJari

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