Storm Antoni - live: Met Office upgrades ‘danger to life’ warnings as flooding sees evacuations

The Met Office has upgraded weather warnings to amber as eight people have been evacuated from their flooded Dublin homes.

The first named storm of the year, Storm Antoni moved eastwards in Ireland as heavy rains poured down overnight into this morning.

In England and Wales, an amber warning for wind is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

The Met Office warned “flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life”.

Two yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for large swathes of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “Storm Antoni will bring some potentially disruptive weather on Saturday as it moves from west to east.

“Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30 more widely.”

Key Points

• Cool Sunday with mix of sunshine and showers as storm fades away

• Amber warning issued as Storm Antoni races towards UK

• ‘Danger to life’ warnings as first Met Office-named storm of year to hit UK

• How strong will the winds be?

• Gale and heavy rain to push through on Saturday morning

• RAC issues warning to motorists

Cool Sunday with mix of sunshine and showers as storm fades away

06:17 , Arpan Rai

The Met Office has indicated of a pleasant Sunday for parts of the UK as Storm Antoni recedes.

“As #StormAntoni slowly clears away from East Anglia and southeast England it will be a cool start to Sunday with a mixture of sunshine and showers,” it said.

Predictions for Sunday across the country showed temperatures ranging from 10 to 18 degree celsius throughout the day.

While Lerwick and Aberdeen will see 10 degrees Celsius in the morning hours, temperatures will go as high as 17 and 18 degrees Celsius for London, South Hampton and Cardiff.

Scarborough, North Yorkshire suffer heavy rainfall prompting evacuations

06:05 , Arpan Rai

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said gusts of 78mph (125km/h) were measured in Berry Head, in Tor Bay, and 43mm of rain fell in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, or almost half of the average rainfall in August.

Flooding in North Yorkshire led to a number of people being evacuated from their homes in Loftus and Carlin How.

Eight people were also evacuated from their homes in Clontarf, Dublin, after spot flooding caused by heavy rainfall overnight on Friday, the Dublin Fire Brigade said in a statement.

Rail services were also disrupted, Mr Partrigde added, noting that Great Western Railway had warned passengers not to travel between Exeter and Penzance due to the number of trees which had fallen on the track.

A number of roads had also been blocked in Devon and Cornwall.

“The rain is still ongoing at the moment, there’s still a fair bit of thunder and rain, particularly across northern England and East Anglia,” he added.

Storm Antoni clears away after hitting UK with 78mph winds and heavy rain

05:27 , Arpan Rai

The Met Office has said that Strom Antoni is now clearing away from the UK, displaying a map of the metereological events over the country.

Yesterday, strong winds lashed the UK as nearly half a month’s worth of rain fell in some places after the storm hit the country.

A danger to life alert was issued as the weather service advised safety precautions due to the possibility of falling trees, riptides, and inadequate building structures.

The Met Office issued an amber warning, with the potential for damaging gusts of wind, covering Wales and southwest England.

Storm Antoni will ‘pretty much all be gone by midnight’

Saturday 5 August 2023 23:16 , Maanya Sachdeva

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge has said the firt named storm of the year, Storm Antoni will “pretty much all be gone by midnight”.

Strong winds lashed the UK as heavy rainfall triggered evacuations in North Yorkshire and Dublin on Saturday, when Storm Antoni hit the country.

Sunday is forecast to be a drier, brighter day, Mr Partridge told the PA news agency.

Nurse criticises emergency response to Yorkshire floods as Storm Antoni hits UK

Saturday 5 August 2023 21:59 , Maanya Sachdeva

A nurse has criticised the emergency response to his town being hit by flooding following heavy rainfall as Storm Antoni swept across the UK.

Paul Jones-King, 47, who has lived in Loftus, North Yorkshire, for 18 years, said he is “angry” and “really frustrated” after his home was flooded on Saturday due to the town’s drainage system - which he said is “not able to cope” with heavy rainfall.

“I just want to cry to be honest with you,” Mr Jones-King told the PA news agency.

“I’m a nurse, I finished a night shift this morning, was sat having a cup of coffee before I was due to go to bed, and literally within 10 minutes your house is flooding.

He criticised both the Environment Agency and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council over the response to the flooding.

Mr Jones-King said: “It really is down to the Environment Agency to come up with a solution rather than just saying, ‘unfortunately you’re in a flooded area’.”

He added: “It’s a real poor response from Redcar and Cleveland Council. There’s no support, they’ve dumped some bags, and that’s it, they’ve gone.”

A spokesman for the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: “The council responded immediately when called out to the need for help and a crew was deployed to the scene by early morning.

“Further crews were mobilised throughout the morning as the scale of the flooding became apparent.

“The crews were at the scene all day to work with the emergency services to keep people safe,” he added.

“The work to repair damage caused will continue in the coming days and we would like to thank all those who gave their time and expertise to ensure people were safe in the aftermath of the flooding.”

Met Office forecasts ‘sunny spells with scattered showers’ on Sunday

Saturday 5 August 2023 20:56 , Maanya Sachdeva

Here’s the weather forecast for Sunday:

When will the rainy weather come to an end?

Saturday 5 August 2023 19:56 , Maanya Sachdeva

Forecasts by the weather agency point to an easing of the downpours later in August but conditions are unlikely to reach anywhere near the sweltering temperatures of last year.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon told The Independent: “There are some early signs, there could be some potentially more settled or warm by the end of next week so there’s a lot of uncertainty around that because of the movement of the various low pressure systems across the Atlantic that would lead to that.”

Looking further ahead, the current forecasts suggest there will be warmer and drier conditions in the second half of August with some spells of rain.

In pictures: Storm Antoni hits UK as events are cancelled

Saturday 5 August 2023 18:56 , Maanya Sachdeva

Storm Antoni weather warnings remain in place this evening: Met Office

Saturday 5 August 2023 18:28 , Maanya Sachdeva

The Met Office has said weather warnings remain in force through Saturday evening, after Storm Antoni ushered in strong gusts of wind and heavy rainfall in some parts of the United Kingdom.

According to an earlier update from the weather forecaster, Sunday is expected to be sunnier than Saturday, with scattered showers in some places.

“Much lighter winds for all,” Sunday’s forecast reads.

Berry Head reports ‘record-breaking’ 125km/h gust speed

Saturday 5 August 2023 17:57 , Maanya Sachdeva

The Met Office has shared a list of the highest gust speeds seen today, as Storm Antoni was unleashed over the UK on Saturday.

Disbelief as Dublin homes hit by flooding after heavy rainfall

Saturday 5 August 2023 17:27 , Maanya Sachdeva

Homeowners expressed disbelief after more than a dozen homes in north Dublin were hit by flash flooding, as Storm Antoni swept across the region.

People were seen assessing the damage to their homes and airing cars that had been parked in driveways, as relatives arrived to offer support.

But residents at the Castle Court Estate questioned whether drainage had an impact on the severity of the flooding, described as a “deluge” by one homeowner, who did not want to be named.

“It was like a tsunami, it just came in (at 9 o’clock), we’d no time to protect ourselves. (We) looked out the window, it was up to your ankle, next thing you know it was up to your knee,” she said.

“We tried to save a few things, like photographs. But we couldn’t save most of the stuff.”

Full story here:

Disbelief as Dublin homes hit by flooding after heavy rainfall

‘Strongest winds easing’ as per latest Met Office update

Saturday 5 August 2023 16:57 , Maanya Sachdeva

According to the Met Office’s latest update, Storm Antoni will start to clear away to the southeast as the strongest winds begin to ease during the second-half of Saturday.

Met Office gives verdict on whether heatwave will hit Britain this month

Saturday 5 August 2023 16:27 , Maanya Sachdeva

As the UK braces for another weekend of miserable weather during Storm Antoni, the Met Office has given its verdict on whether a heatwave will hit Britain this month.

The first storm of the year will see gusts of up to 65mph batter coastlines from Friday evening onwards, with winds of up to 50mph inland due in parts of south Wales and southwest England, leaving Britons longing for the summer sun to return.

According to the weather service, unseasonably wet and windy conditions are likely to continue for another two weeks, before the sun shines on Britons’ summer plans.

Full story here:

Met Office gives verdict on whether heatwave will hit UK this month

Evacuations in North Yorkshire as heavy rains cause flooding

Saturday 5 August 2023 15:57 , Maanya Sachdeva

A number of people have been evacuated from their homes in North Yorkshire due to flooding after heavy rain.

Cleveland Police said residents in Loftus and Carlin How were evacuated and the fire service and local authority are supporting those affected.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Cleveland Police are asking people in those areas not to take any risks, such as driving to the home of relatives, or making unnecessary journeys.”

Weather won’t stop us celebrating Brighton and Hove pride, organisers say

Saturday 5 August 2023 15:26 , Maanya Sachdeva

The weather “won’t be stopping us”, organisers have said, as Brighton and Hove Pride parade gets under way amid wet and rainy conditions.

Revellers turned out to cheer on the much-celebrated Pride event along the seafront, despite yellow weather warnings from the Met Office.

Saturday’s parade was expected to draw 300,000 people to the city’s streets, among them community groups, small businesses and NHS services, as they march to the official Pride community fundraiser Fabuloso in the Park at Preston Park.

Brighton Pride’s managing director Paul Kemp said: “We’ve encouraged people to wear ponchos so it might be a little bit Glastonbury.

“That wouldn’t stop us from having a great celebration and a great Pride in our city.”

The annual celebration is the city’s largest single event, expected to boost the economy by more than £20m over the weekend.

However Govia Thameslink Railway will not be running any trains between London and Brighton on Saturday, blaming an overtime ban by the drivers’ union Aslef.

Mr Kemp said organisers were disappointed a compromise could not be found, explaining it will “affect turnout”.

“I’m sorry for people who booked hotels and paid for accommodation and now can’t get in,” he continued.

However he said it “won’t derail us” and “the show goes on”.

Waves crash against Dorset shore as danger to life warning issued amid Storm Antoni

Saturday 5 August 2023 14:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Waves crashed against the shore in Portland, Dorset, as the Met Office issued a danger to life warning after Storm Antoni hit the UK on Saturday, 5 August.

An amber warning, which indicates flying debris is possible and could lead to injuries or danger to life, is in place for southwestern areas of both England and Wales until 7pm.

A yellow warning for “unseasonably windy weather” has been issued for southern parts of the UK until 8pm, warning that “injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.”

Waves crash against Dorset shore as danger to life warning issued amid Storm Antoni

Watch: Brighton Pride celebrations in full swing despite Storm Antoni winds

Saturday 5 August 2023 14:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Storm Antoni moves east in the afternoon

Saturday 5 August 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The storm is heading eastwards this afternoon as winds and heavy rainfall picks up.

Eight people evacuated from Dublin homes after heavy rain causes floods

Saturday 5 August 2023 13:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Eight people have been evacuated from their Dublin homes after spot flooding caused by heavy rainfall overnight.

One person has been brought to hospital, Dublin Fire Brigade said in a statement.

Forecaster Met Eireann had issued several warnings for heavy rain and strong winds as Storm Antoni moved eastwards across Ireland.

Firefighters attended the scene of flooding at the Castle Court Estate, off the Howth Road in Clontarf, on Saturday morning after multiple 999 calls were made.

Eight people were evacuated by water-trained firefighters using inflatable rescue sleds to help people leave their homes safely.

“Operations are ongoing at the incident and firefighters from North Strand and Phibsborough fire stations are working with Dublin City Council crews alongside ESB network technicians,” it said in a statement.

“An apartment block basement remains flooded following the heavy rain overnight.”

In pictures: Storm Antoni hammers down

Saturday 5 August 2023 12:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Fallen trees and windswept racegoers are among the victims of Storm Antoni so far today, as the Met Office has issued several yellow and amber weather warnings across the UK.

Watch: Strong Storm Antoni winds hit Bibby Stockholm barge

Saturday 5 August 2023 12:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Storm Antoni mapped: Check weather warnings in your area as UK faces wind, rain and thunderstorms

Saturday 5 August 2023 12:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK is braced for torrential rain and 70mph winds today as Storm Antoni barrels towards Britain, with warnings for flooding across parts of the country.

Some areas could see as much as 60mm of rainfall on Saturday, with five warnings including wind, heavy rain and thunderstorm covering the south of England, Wales, Northern Ireland parts of Scotland.

Read more here:

Storm Antoni mapped: Weather warnings in your area as UK faces wind, rain and thunder

Bellowing winds up to 70mph to hit coast

Saturday 5 August 2023 11:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said the storm, which is the first to be named by the Met Office this season, could see winds of up to 70mph on the coast and 60mph inland.

He said: “Storm Antoni is now tracking east into the Irish Sea and will continue to move east across England and Wales.

“With it being the holiday season and it being a Saturday there will be plenty of local events going on, (Storm Antoni) wouldn’t necessarily bring the same level of impact if it was in the winter.

“For August this is very unusual.

“Effectively the trees are in full leaf so are more susceptible to strong winds.

“Building structures, trees and temporary structures such as marquees may not well be too adequate.

“Beach debris could be thrown from waves onto coastal roads, there’s a risk of dangerous tides, riptides and power cuts.

“Most travel disruption will be from (fallen) trees and branches.”

Areas within the yellow thunderstorm warning could see 15 to 25mm of rain in under an hour and 30 to 40mm in two to three hours.

UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

Saturday 5 August 2023 11:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Where are the weather warnings?

Saturday 5 August 2023 10:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

There are now five weather warnings in place across large swathes of the UK.

England and Wales are most severely affected with multiple warnings for wind and rain issued for today.

Yellow weather warning for rain issued for south east England

Saturday 5 August 2023 10:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A yellow weather warning for rain has now been issued as thunderstorms pelt down across south east England today.

Warning for drivers as winds pick up speed

Saturday 5 August 2023 10:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The RAC and National Highways have cautioned drivers to be careful when driving through strong winds today, as the Met Office issued one yellow and two amber warnings for wind.

Watch their video here:

UK weather: When will the rain stop?

Saturday 5 August 2023 09:44 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Downpours, thunderstorms and high winds and low temperatures are continuing to be forecast for parts of England and Wales this week before the wet weather will potentially let up.

Last year, the UK saw record breaking temperatures of more than 40C recorded, wildfires destroying houses and train tracks melting.

However, last month was the UK’s sixth wettest July on record.

Here are some answers on what is causing the rain and whether there is a chance that the weather will improve:

UK weather: When will the rain stop?

Storm Antoni: Met Office upgrades weather warning as England set to be battered by intense winds

Saturday 5 August 2023 09:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Met Office has upgraded two weather warnings for wind to amber as “unseasonably” strong gusts upto 70mph hurtle towards parts of the UK.

The “danger to life” warning comes as the low-pressure weather system moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists said, unleashing Storm Antoni across Britain.

An amber warning for wind is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

Strong northwesterly winds are likely to peak during the middle of the day in southwest Wales, and through the afternoon in southwest England, before easing during the evening.

Met Office upgrades Storm Antoni weather warning with 70mph winds to batter UK

How strong will the winds be as amber warning issued?

Saturday 5 August 2023 08:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The amber warning for wind is in place from 11am to 7pm today for Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Torbay in south west England.

In Wales, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea will be hit by the strong winds.

Here, the Met Office shows how strong the gales will be in miles per hour (mph).

What to expect for yellow wind warning? Met Office explains

Saturday 5 August 2023 08:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

From falling branches to tall vehicles, the Met Office explains all the dangers expected when a yellow wind warning is in place.

Strong winds and heavy rain to push through on Saturday morning

Saturday 5 August 2023 08:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Heavy rain for Northern Ireland first thing on Saturday will then push across Wales and England, the Met Office has said.

Strong winds are expected to batter south west England and Wales.

Amber warning issued as Storm Antoni races towards UK

Saturday 5 August 2023 07:39 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Met Office has issued two amber weather warnings for wind for areas of south west England and Wales.

The warning is in place from 11am to 7pm for Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Torbay, and Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

Gusts of 40-50 mph are expected widely even inland, with a few spots peaking around 60 mph, while exposed coastal areas and hills could see gusts around 70 mph, the Met Office said.

Two yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place for large swathes of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Wet and windy weather expected to loom over parts of the UK today

Saturday 5 August 2023 06:45 , Arpan Rai

The Met Office has said heavy rain and strong winds are expected to bring disruption as Storm Antoni hits parts of the UK today.

An amber warning with the potential for damaging gusts of wind has been issued for some southwestern areas of both England and Wales between 11am and 7pm.

That followed a yellow warning for “unseasonably windy weather” to southern parts of the UK between 8am and 8pm.

There is also a yellow warning until 11am for unseasonably wet and windy conditions which may lead to some disruption in Northern Ireland.

Yellow warning issued for Northern Ireland

Saturday 5 August 2023 06:17 , Arpan Rai

A yellow rain warning has come into effect for parts of Northern Ireland, the Met Office said today.

There’s a chance of possible flooding of homes and businesses, and surface water on roads.

Weather warning issued for England, Wales: ‘Fatal risk of injury'

Saturday 5 August 2023 05:56 , Arpan Rai

A second warning issued across southwest England and much of Wales will be in place for 12 hours until 8pm.

The warning cautions that strong winds could potentially cause damage to buildings, with flying debris posing a potentially fatal risk of injury.

Road, rail, air and ferry services could be affected by the winds, with longer journey times and cancellations possible along with road and bridge closures, the Met Office said, warning that “injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties”.

Power cuts may also occur, with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage, forecasters said.

Weather warnings in force today due to Storm Antoni

Saturday 5 August 2023 05:40 , Arpan Rai

The national forecaster warned that Storm Antoni could also bring winds of up to 50mph inland in parts of south Wales and southwest England, while heavy rains could flood homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.

“Unseasonably” strong winds and fast-flowing rainwater may disrupt air, rail, road and ferry travel, with the potential to put lives at risk as the low-pressure weather system moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists said.

Storm Antoni to bring ‘unseasonably strong’ winds today

Saturday 5 August 2023 05:25 , Arpan Rai

Storm Antoni will bring “unseasonably strong” winds and heavy rain to the UK today, officials warned.

The storm, first to be named by the Met Office this season, hit the UK from late Friday night and will run into Saturday.

Officials from the Met Office have issued warning for rain and wind for Northern Ireland and parts of south-west Britain respectively.

While Northern Ireland will experience heavy rain from the early hours today, parts of Wales and south-west and coastal southern England will experience strong winds.

The storm would bring “potentially disruptive” weather as it moved from west to east, the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Steve Willington said.

“Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30mm more widely. Away from the warning area many will still see a very wet day, especially in north Wales and north England,” he added.

ICYMI: Storm Antoni forces cancellation of outdoor events across the weekend

Saturday 5 August 2023 05:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The weather has also forced organisers of outdoor events scheduled to take place this weekend to cancel their plans.

Eliot Walker, organiser of the annual Dorset jazz festival, Stompin’ on the Quomps, said he was “disappointed” he had to postpone this year’s event due to Storm Antoni. The free festival in Christchurch Quay was forced to cancel its activities for the first time in its 30-year history.

Mr Walker, 44, said: “We’re really disappointed that the town can’t come together to enjoy a wonderful day listening to professional jazz and big bands by the side of the river on the picturesque quay.”

Around 10,000 people had been expected to attend on Saturday. The decision to cancel the festival was driven by concerns for the safety of traders and spectators, as gusts of up to 60mph are predicted.

Mr Walker added: “We always keep an eye on the weather for the months leading up to the events just to get a general idea, and the closer we get, the more accurate and consistent the weather forecasts tend to be.

“But on Wednesday, we were still seeing gusts of wind to 47mph, which is quite extreme for Christchurch. And it was at that point we wanted to give our traders and bands enough time to know that they weren’t going to be performing.

“Christchurch Quay is a popular location for events. We are talking to Christchurch Town Council and trying to find available dates in either August or September to move the festival to.”

ICYMI: UK weather warnings: Met Office issues ‘Danger to life’ alert over Storm Antoni 65mph winds

Saturday 5 August 2023 03:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The first Met Office-named storm of the year will hit the UK this weekend with gusts of up to 65mph expected to batter the coastlines and disrupt travel, with heavy rain posing a “danger to life”.

The national forecaster warned that Storm Antoni could also bring winds of up to 50mph inland in parts of south Wales and southwest England, while heavy rains could flood homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.

Andy Gregory reports:

‘Danger to life’ warnings as first Met Office-named storm of year to hit UK

When and how is a storm named?

Saturday 5 August 2023 01:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The criteria the Met Office uses is based on its National Severe Weather Warnings service, which combines both the impact the weather could have with the likelihood of those potential impacts occurring.

A storm will be named when it has the potential to cause an amber or red warning.

Then, when the criteria for naming a storm have been met, either the Met Office, Met Éireann or KNMI can name a storm. Each year, the Met Office receives thousands of suggestions for storm names from the public.

However, for consistency with the US National Hurricane Centre conventions, no storms are named with a Q, U, X, Y or Z.

UK weather: When will the rain stop?

Friday 4 August 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Downpours, thunderstorms and high winds and low temperatures are continuing to be forecast for parts of England and Wales this week before the wet weather will potentially let up.

Last year, the UK saw record breaking temperatures of more than 40C recorded, wildfires destroying houses and train tracks melting.

However, this July was the UK’s sixth wettest July on record.

Here are some answers on what is causing the rain and whether there is a chance that the weather will improve:

UK weather: When will the rain stop?

What has the Met Office said about Storm Antoni?

Friday 4 August 2023 20:58 , Eleanor Noyce

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington said: “Storm Antoni will bring some potentially disruptive weather on Saturday as it moves from west to east. Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30mm more widely. Away from the warning area many will still see a very wet day, especially in north Wales and north England.

“Storm Antoni will also bring strong winds to a swathe of Wales, southwest England and southern coastal areas of England. The strongest winds will affect parts southwest England and southwest Wales where exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts in excess of 60mph. In these areas, gusts inland could reach 50-55mph for a time. These windy conditions will likely coincide with high tides which will present an additional challenge for coastal areas.

“Busy travel networks at this time of year and the possibility of people having made plans to be outside have resulted in the system meeting our criteria for naming, with a strong chance of disruption for those within the warning areas.”

What will the roads be like during Storm Antoni?

Friday 4 August 2023 19:08 , Eleanor Noyce

Ahead of Storm Antoni’s arrival, the RAC has issued a warning to drivers across the UK.

The RAC’s Rod Dennis said: “We expect Saturday to be the worst day on the roads of the summer so far, especially for anyone in the southwest of England – and that’s a lot of people as our research shows it’s the most popular part of the country for leisure trips by car this year.

“Conditions will be atrocious with a wholly unpleasant mix of very strong winds and locally intense rainfall. The best advice is to slow down significantly to stay safe and avoid exposed moorland and coastal routes until the storm passes. Drivers towing caravans and trailers need to be particularly careful in these conditions and those with boxes and bikes on the roof should double-check they’re secured properly.

“Drivers should also watch out for fallen trees and be prepared for the disruption they cause.

“Nationally, we estimate around 4m drivers will be using the roads for leisure journeys across the whole weekend.”

Met Office issues special forecast ahead of Storm Antoni

Friday 4 August 2023 18:06 , Eleanor Noyce

Storm Antoni is set to bring “unseasonably strong” winds and heavy rain to the UK on Saturday.

The storm, which is the first to be named by the Met Office this season, will hit the UK from late Friday night and into Saturday.

Rain and wind warnings have been issued for Northern Ireland and parts of south-west Britain respectively.

Northern Ireland will see heavy rain from the early hours of Saturday morning, while parts of Wales and south-west and coastal southern England will be blasted with heavy wind.

Ahead of Storm Antoni’s arrival, the Met Office has issued a special forecast. Watch here:

Storm Antoni forces cancellation of outdoor events

Friday 4 August 2023 17:18 , Eleanor Noyce

The weather has also forced organisers of outdoor events scheduled to take place this weekend to cancel their plans.

Eliot Walker, organiser of the annual Dorset jazz festival, Stompin’ on the Quomps, said he was “disappointed” he had to postpone this year’s event due to Storm Antoni. The free festival in Christchurch Quay was forced to cancel its activities for the first time in its 30-year history.

Mr Walker, 44, said: “We’re really disappointed that the town can’t come together to enjoy a wonderful day listening to professional jazz and big bands by the side of the river on the picturesque quay.”

Around 10,000 people had been expected to attend on Saturday. The decision to cancel the festival was driven by concerns for the safety of traders and spectators, as gusts of up to 60mph are predicted.

Mr Walker added: “We always keep an eye on the weather for the months leading up to the events just to get a general idea, and the closer we get, the more accurate and consistent the weather forecasts tend to be.

“But on Wednesday, we were still seeing gusts of wind to 47mph, which is quite extreme for Christchurch. And it was at that point we wanted to give our traders and bands enough time to know that they weren’t going to be performing.

“Christchurch Quay is a popular location for events. We are talking to Christchurch Town Council and trying to find available dates in either August or September to move the festival to.”

UK weather: Met Office gives verdict on whether heatwave will hit Britain this month

Friday 4 August 2023 17:15 , Eleanor Noyce

As the UK braces for another weekend of miserable weather during Storm Antoni, the Met Office has given its verdict on whether a heatwave will hit Britain this month.

The first storm of the year will see gusts of up to 65mph batter coastlines from Friday evening onwards, with winds of up to 50mph inland due in parts of south Wales and southwest England, leaving Britons longing for the summer sun to return.

“Unseasonably” strong winds and fast-flowing rainwaters may disrupt air, rail, road and ferry travel and could bring a “danger to life” as the low-pressure weather system moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists said.

Read more:

Will there be a heatwave this summer?

Friday 4 August 2023 17:06 , Eleanor Noyce

As the UK is set for another weekend of miserable weather in the form of Storm Antoni, the Met Office has given its verdict on whether a heatwave will hit Britain this month.

The first storm of the year, Storm Antoni will see gusts of up to 65mph batter coastlines from Friday evening onwards, with winds of up to 50mph inland due in parts of south Wales and southwest England leaving Britons longing for another heatwave.

“Unseasonably” strong winds and fast-flowing rainwaters may disrupt air, rail, road and ferry travel and could bring a “danger to life” as the low-pressure weather system moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists said, with the RAC warning of “atrocious” conditions for drivers.

However, the Met Office has dashed hopes of an improvement in favour of sunnier conditions as it has warned that cooler temperatures and unseasonal wet weather are likely to persist for two more weeks.

According to the Met Office, the washout summer in England will continue for at least another 10 days, with warmer and drier conditions becoming “slightly more likely than the unseasonably unsettled weather of July” during the second half of August.

From 6-15 August, temperatures will continue to be mostly below average for this time of the year (around 20C), “although they should start to recover through the period”.

“The greatest chance of seeing anything more widely settled is the second-part of August, with warmer and drier conditions becoming more likely,” they added, when temperatures are forecast to rise to average, or slightly above average. However, this change might be accompanied by an increasing risk of thundery showers.

UK weather: Why is Britain enduring such a rainy summer?

Friday 4 August 2023 16:32 , Eleanor Noyce

While much of southern Europe has been battling 40C heat and out-of-control wildfires in recent weeks – the latest disturbing illustration of the climate crisis in action – the UK has been enduring one of the most damp and dismal summers in recent memory.

This time last year, the country experienced precedent-shattering temperatures but, 12 months on, several areas including Preston, Lancashire, and Castlederg in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, have reported their wettest July since records began, according to the BBC.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

Why is Britain enduring such a rainy summer?

In pictures: UK weather as August misery continues

Friday 4 August 2023 16:10 , Eleanor Noyce

Last month marked the UK’s sixth wettest July on record, averaging 140.1mm of rain across the month, and it was the wettest in Northern Ireland’s history.

Areas in England further set new rainfall records, including Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside, which all experienced their wettest July since records began in 1836.

The latest figures could be reviewed once all rainfall data for last month has been collected and reviewed, the Met Office added.

As the miserable weather continues into August, here are the recent conditions in pictures:

What has the Met Office said about Storm Antoni?

Friday 4 August 2023 15:36 , Eleanor Noyce

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington said: “Storm Antoni will bring some potentially disruptive weather on Saturday as it moves from west to east. Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30mm more widely. Away from the warning area many will still see a very wet day, especially in north Wales and north England.

“Storm Antoni will also bring strong winds to a swathe of Wales, southwest England and southern coastal areas of England. The strongest winds will affect parts southwest England and southwest Wales where exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts in excess of 60mph. In these areas, gusts inland could reach 50-55mph for a time. These windy conditions will likely coincide with high tides which will present an additional challenge for coastal areas.

“Busy travel networks at this time of year and the possibility of people having made plans to be outside have resulted in the system meeting our criteria for naming, with a strong chance of disruption for those within the warning areas.”

Visit Cornwall issues guidance for campers ahead of Storm Antoni

Friday 4 August 2023 15:00 , Eleanor Noyce

One Cornwall-based tourist board has issued guidance for campers visiting the area ahead of Storm Antoni’s arrival.

Malcolm Bell, Executive Chair of Visit Cornwall said: “All campers should ask the campsite operator for advice and guidance on their equipment and location, to ensure they are best equipped to cope with the unseasonal gale force winds, and in some exceptional cases such as on very exposed sites that may mean packing away for the duration of the gales.”

When will the UK weather improve?

Friday 4 August 2023 14:54 , Eleanor Noyce

After a month of largely unsettled weather for the UK, there are some tentative signs of a change, albeit perhaps only briefly, later next week, forecasters said.

Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “For the latter half of next week, there are some signals of a shift in the jet stream which may allow for high pressure to build in for southern areas of the UK, increasing the likelihood of some drier weather for a time.

However, at this range, the details are quite uncertain and there’s still a chance of some rain for areas further north. As always, details will become clearer with a shorter lead time.”

When will Storm Antoni hit?

Friday 4 August 2023 14:37 , Eleanor Noyce

Two weather warnings will be in force on Saturday, with a yellow alert for rain covering most of Northern Ireland from midnight until 11am, where up to 60mm of rain could fall in a single day – comprising nearly three-quarters of Belfast’s average monthly total.

A second warning issued across southwest England and much of Wales will be in place for 12 hours until 8pm, and cautions that strong winds could cause some damage to buildings, with flying debris posing a potentially fatal risk of injuries.

What is behind the recent bad weather?

Friday 4 August 2023 14:32 , Eleanor Noyce

Britain’s conditions are a stark contrast to Europe, with devastating wildfires recently engulfing parts of Greece and Italy.

The island of Rhodes has seen 19,000 people evacuated, with Greek authorities describing the response as “the largest evacuation from a wildfire in the country.”

These conditions aren’t set to reach the UK though, which is on the northern side of the jet stream, bringing low pressure. The southern side has developed heat over southern Europe.

Last summer, vast swathes experienced high temperatures that exceeded 40C for the first time, with the highest temperature recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire on 19 July 2022 at 40.3C.

“Typically we are to the south of that jet stream and what that allows and what it allowed last summer is for a high pressure to build over the UK, and allows the UK to kind of draw up warmer air from the south”, Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon explained of recent poorer weather conditions earlier this week.

“More air was kind of fed in from the equator almost and moved over the UK and so that high pressure, coupled with the time of year it was, allowed that day on day to rise to the UK to that record level of 40.3C. We just haven’t been in that weather pattern this summer.

“It’s down to that jet stream and how it develops weather towards the UK. At the moment, it’s kind of directed towards the UK, which helps to develop these low pressure systems and gives us a bit of a little autumnal-feel for the weather that we’ve seen in recent weeks.”

Where have the weather warnings been issued?

Friday 4 August 2023 14:25 , Eleanor Noyce

Rain and wind warnings have been issued for Northern Ireland and parts of south-west Britain respectively.

Northern Ireland will see heavy rain from the early hours of Saturday morning, while parts of Wales and south-west and coastal southern England will be blasted with heavy wind.

Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said the storm will bring “potentially disruptive” weather as it moves from west to east.

He added: “Northern Ireland is likely to see some of the highest rainfall totals, with 40-60mm falling in some spots, but 20-30mm more widely.

“Away from the warning area many will still see a very wet day, especially in north Wales and north England.”

He said that the strongest winds will affect parts of south-west England and south-west Wales, with gusts reaching in excess of 60mph.

“The strongest winds will affect parts south-west England and southwest Wales where exposed coasts and high ground could see gusts in excess of 60mph,” he said.

“In these areas, gusts inland could reach 50-55mph for a time. These windy conditions will likely coincide with high tides which will present an additional challenge for coastal areas.”

RAC issues warning to motorists ahead of Storm Antoni

Friday 4 August 2023 14:19 , Eleanor Noyce

The RAC’s Rod Dennis warned that Saturday is expected to be the worst day on the roads of the summer so far.

“We expect Saturday to be the worst day on the roads of the summer so far, especially for anyone in the south-west of England - and that’s a lot of people as our research shows it’s the most popular part of the country for leisure trips by car this year,” he said.

“Conditions will be atrocious with a wholly unpleasant mix of very strong winds and locally intense rainfall. The best advice is to slow down significantly to stay safe and avoid exposed moorland and coastal routes until the storm passes.

“Drivers towing caravans and trailers need to be particularly careful in these conditions and those with boxes and bikes on the roof should double-check they’re secured properly.

“Drivers should also watch out for fallen trees and be prepared for the disruption they cause.”

He added that the RAC estimates that around four million cars will be using the roads for leisure journeys across the whole weekend.

Storm Antoni: ‘Danger to life’ warnings as first Met Office-named storm of year to hit UK

Friday 4 August 2023 14:17 , Eleanor Noyce

The first Met Office-named storm of the year will hit the UK this weekend with gusts of up to 65mph expected to batter the coastlines and disrupt travel, with heavy rain posing a “danger to life”.

The national forecaster warned that Storm Antoni could also bring winds of up to 50mph inland in parts of south Wales and southwest England, while heavy rains could flood homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.

“Unseasonably” strong winds and fast-flowing rainwaters may disrupt air, rail, road and ferry travel and could bring a “danger to life” as the low-pressure weather system moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists said.

Read Andy Gregory’s report here:

‘Danger to life’ warnings as first Met Office-named storm of year to hit UK

Friday 4 August 2023 14:16 , Eleanor Noyce

Good afternoon, and welcome to The Independent’s liveblog covering Storm Antoni.