Met Office red warning EXTENDED for 24h as Storm Babet lashes Britain

Parts of eastern Scotland could see an additional 70-100mm of rain.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “This is not usual autumn weather.

WATCH NOW: Storm Babet batters Britain

“Today parts of eastern Scotland could see a further 20-30 mm of rain, but the east-facing high ground from southeast Scotland to the Cheviots, south to the Peak District may see as much as 80 to 120 mm of rain locally. Strong easterly winds may exacerbate the impacts of the heavy rain.

“We have issued a second red warning covering parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire for Saturday with 70-100 mm rain possible. This has the potential to cause further impacts in this already hard-hit area.”

“This is an exceptional event, and we are likely to continue to see significant impacts with the potential for further flooding and damage to properties.

“There are numerous National Severe Weather Warnings in place for both rain and wind over the coming days.”

The Met Office's “danger to life” warning cautions people to expect extensive flooding and damage to buildings.

The weather service also states that travel disruptions are likely and power and electricity supplies could also be affected.

The original red warning was put into place yesterday afternoon and lasted until 11.am today.

Posting on social media, the Met Office wrote: “A rare RED rain warning is now in force. Exceptional rainfall will fall across parts of eastern Scotland. Severe flooding and disruption is expected with dangerous driving conditions.”

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Three people have died so far as a result of Storm Babet.

A 57-year-old woman’s body was recovered from a river in Angus, where the red warning is in place, on Wednesday.

Police said they recovered the body in the mid-afternoon after being called to reports of a woman being swept up by the storm.

“Around 1.45pm on Thursday October 19, officers attended a report of a person having been swept into the Water of Lee, Glen Esk,” a spokesperson for Police Scotland said.

“Around 4pm, the body of a 57-year-old woman was recovered from the river.

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Another victim to the storm was a 56-year-old man who died after his van was hit by a falling tree, also in Angus.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 5.05pm on Thursday, 19 October, 2023, police received a report of a one-vehicle crash in which a tree struck a van on the B9127 at Whigstreet near Forfar.

“Emergency services attended, however, the 56-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Next of kin have been informed and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. The road remains closed.”

Meanwhile, another man died after getting caught in fast-flowing water in Shropshire.

Speaking to GB News, weather journalist Nathan Rao discussed the red weather warnings: “Now these things are incredibly rare. The last red weather warning for rain, to put it into context, was in 2020 and they don't issue them lightly.”

“Now, the red weather warning is in place across the eastern side of Scotland until midday today. But there is a whole raft of weather warnings out throughout today and up until 6:00 AM on Saturday.”

“Not only for rain, but for wind, but it is gonna be rain, particularly in Scotland. That is gonna be the issue during this storm.”