A summary of today's developments
A man in his 60s died on Friday morning after getting caught in flood water in Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, the third person to die in Storm Babet.
Police confirmed that a person aged 56 had also died, after a falling tree hit his van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening.
The Met Office extended its rare red warning, which was due to expire at noon on Friday, into Saturday for east Scotland, meaning there is a risk to life from the stormy weather.
Derbyshire fire and rescue service said a major incident has been declared in the county due to the impact of Storm Babet.
Water levels rose rapidly overnight in Angus county, with some parts only accessible by boat by the morning. Emergency crews rescued people trapped in their flooded homes, who had opted to remain despite the evacuation order, and brought them to rest centres.
Leeds Bradford airport announced it has closed after passengers were earlier evacuated from a plane that skidded off the runway when landing due to wet weather in the afternoon.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue service said they rescued 60 people from homes and businesses in the Brampton area of Chesterfield.
Suffolk county declared a major incident, with fire services asking people not to travel unless “absolutely essential” due to severe flooding and dangerous driving conditions.
Flooding hit Dundee as the Dighty Burn in the city’s Balmossie area burst its banks. Houses adjoining the burn were flooded and cars submerged.
The Energy Networks Association said that 55,000 customers had been left without power, but 45,000 of those have been reconnected.
Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSEN) says it has managed to reconnect almost 32,000 customers and work is going on to reconnect another 2,800.
As of 9pm, SSEN has restored power to 32,000 customers, with work ongoing to reconnect 2,800 properties.
Here is the Met Office’s forecast for Saturday with rain the common denominator.
☔ A very wet start to Saturday in Scotland and parts of northern England with strong easterly winds
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 20, 2023
🌦️ Brighter further showers, although scattered showers continue, particularly in the southeast
⚠️ Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/6OB1VcIQhO
Across England, there were over 283 flood warnings and 243 alerts on Friday evening, while 55,000 people were left without power as a result of the storm.
Colin Robertson, the 57-year-old director of Street Friends in Aberdeen, which supports people with homelessness and rough sleeping, told the Guardian that he has concerns for the lives of rough sleepers caught amid the biting storm.
“The obvious [fear] is that somebody’s going to die – somebody is going to get that cold that their bodies are just going to pack in. It is really, really cold out there,” he said.
On Friday, four Street Friends volunteers handed out hot drinks, pot noodles and warm clothes and sleeping bags to 48 people in Aberdeen, after helping 30 people on Thursday.
“It is absolutely freezing, plus it’s been raining,” he said. “I think that’s probably the worst thing, the rain – because if you’re sleeping rough, you’re never ever going to get dry, not in this weather. And you get cold, and then you’re really cold.”
Robertson said earlier this week volunteers found a man fast asleep in a doorway around midnight, with only a sleeping bag for protection. Rough sleeping deaths in this weather “are going to happen,” he said. “It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf paid tribute to two people who died during Storm Babet - as Police Scotland said flooding was “the most difficult conditions” some communities had ever faced.
Yousaf said: “Storm Babet has now, tragically, claimed lives, and my deepest condolences go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones. Unfortunately, we have not seen the last of this storm.
“Around half the average monthly rainfall for October is expected to fall through tonight and tomorrow in areas already severely affected by exceptional levels of rainfall.
“It was always expected that the impacts of the storm would continue even once the most severe aspects of the storm itself had subsided, but a new Red weather alert makes the ongoing severity of this situation clear.”
Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland Stuart Houston said: “With the red warning extended until midnight Saturday, this remains a dangerous situation which poses a threat to life.
“Communities in Tayside are dealing with some of the most difficult conditions they have faced, with evacuations continuing of those affected by flooding.”
Storm Babet left 55,000 customers without power in England as it “battered” the country, the Energy Networks Association has said.
Ross Easton, director of external affairs at ENA, said that about 45,000 customers had already been reconnected but that 10,000 were still without power on Friday.
He told the PA news agency: “Around 10,000 customers are without power in England, with the storm continuing to batter parts of the country. Around 45,000 customers have been reconnected already.
“The energy network operators have been contacting customers on the priority services register since before the storm began, checking in on them and making them aware of potential disruption.
“Hundreds of field engineers, control room and customer service staff have been deployed to support and reconnect people as quickly as possible, as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Updated
Dozens of people cut off by flooding in the village of Debenham, Suffolk are sheltering in the local leisure centre, staff said.
Ness Rodgers, events coordinator at Debenham Leisure Centre, told the PA news agency: “We have about 50 people here but we are expecting more.
“Nobody can get in or out of the village. Tractors are picking people up who are stuck on the edge of the village. There are a couple of people here whose houses are flooded so they can’t get in.
“We’ve got lots of crash mats which we’ve laid out. We’re trying to make people as comfortable and as calm as possible. We have one girl who’s hysterical because she just wants to go home.”
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Derbyshire fire and rescue service says it has now rescued about 60 people from flooded homes and businesses in the Brampton area of Chesterfield. Earlier, the figure was 30.
Incident commander Mark King said residents had been moved to a nearby rest centre set up by the county council, the BBC reported.
Updated
Eastern Scotland is braced for further heavy flooding and storm damage after the Met Office issued a second “danger to life” red weather warning, as the death toll from Storm Babet rose to three.
The emergency services rescued about 60 people from Brechin in Angus, but were unable to reach others stranded in their homes after the South Esk River surged to record heights, overwhelming flood defences erected seven years ago.
Police on Friday confirmed that three people have died in the storm. A man was swept away by a swollen brook in Shropshire on Friday and, on Thursday, a van driver, 56, was killed by a fallen tree in Forfar. In a separate incident, a 57-year-old woman was swept to her death in the Water of Lee in Glen Esk.
The weather agency said the very rare red warning for severe flooding and disruption would cover parts of Angus and southern Aberdeenshire for the whole of Saturday, only hours after the first red warning for the region had lapsed at noon on Friday. It said another 100mm of rain could fall there on Saturday.
Updated
Aberdeenshire council has warned of “considerable risk of flooding” on the River Don.
A spokesperson said: “Latest modelling from Sepa is indicating that there is now a considerable risk of flooding on the River Don at Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore tomorrow [Saturday] between 10am and 2pm.
“This has the potential to impact properties in low-lying areas and we would urge residents and businesses to get prepared and take immediate steps to protect their own property from flooding.”
Updated
A dogwalker in Mugdock, Stirlingshire has shared footage on X of the forest floor “moving like the sea”.
A dogwalker in Mugdock, Stirlingshire has shared clips of the forest floor “moving like the sea” as #StormBabet continues to batter Scotland.
— Clyde 1 News (@Clyde1News) October 20, 2023
📸 David Nungent-Malone pic.twitter.com/zPkMQTQKel
Flooding has caused 70-minute delays on the A1 near Grantham in Lincolnshire, National Highways has said.
In a post on X, the agency said: “Due to extensive flooding in the area, the A1 has reduced capacity both ways between the A46 and B6326 near Grantham.
“Traffic Officers, Nottinghamshire police and contractors are working to clear the water and get the lanes moving; there are delays of 70 minutes on the approach.”
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Major incident declared in Derbyshire
Derbyshire fire and rescue service said a major incident had been declared in the county due to the impact of Storm Babet.
In a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter, the service advised people not travel unless essential until further notice this weekend.
The post added: “Do not ignore road closed signs.”
A statement posted on the service’s website added: “Most roads in Derbyshire are affected by flooding and many are closed.
“We are calling on our communities to follow the advice below to keep safe: Do not travel unless essential from now until further information is available later in the weekend. Continue to watch for weather and flooding updates. Look out for vulnerable neighbours, especially if they have care services who may not be able to reach them.
“Never drive or walk into floodwater, even if it appears shallow – it could endanger your life.”
Derbyshire fire and rescue service earlier said they rescued 30 people from homes and businesses in the Brampton area of Chesterfield.
Updated
West Midlands fire service rescued eight people and a dog after vehicles became stranded in flood water in the village of Balsall Common, near Solihull.
The brigade said in a statement: “Please avoid the area around Balsall Street, Balsall Common.
“Several people whose vehicles got stuck in the water there have been brought to safety on rafts by our firefighters
“We were called at around 2.40pm. Crews responded from Canley and Sheldon fire stations, and our technical rescue unit. Five men, two women, a child and a dog were ferried from five cars and a van. No one was hurt.”
Updated
Leeds Bradford airport closed due to adverse weather
Leeds Bradford airport has announced it has closed after passengers were earlier evacuated from a plane that skidded off the runway.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm there are no reported injuries from this incident and that all passengers have now safely disembarked the aircraft.
“The airport is now closed.
“We are working with the airline, relevant operations teams and emergency authorities to resolve this situation and return services safely as quickly as possible.
“We ask passengers to contact their airline to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.”
We can confirm the airport is now closed. We ask passengers to contact their airline to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport. There are no reported injuries from today’s incident and all passengers have now safely disembarked the aircraft.
— LeedsBradfordAirport (@LBIAirport) October 20, 2023
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Here is footage of the four people rescued from the roof of a vehicle in Trowell, Nottinghamshire.
We have rescued four people trapped on the roof of a vehicle in Trowell.
— Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (@nottsfire) October 20, 2023
✋ Please do not drive through flood water. You put your life at risk and the firefighters who will have to rescue you.
⚠️ We advise you do not travel unless necessary. pic.twitter.com/pe6Fk5hzQq
Afternoon summary
Here’s a summary of the key developments from the day:
A man in his 60s died on Friday morning after getting caught in flood water in Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, the third person to die in Storm Babet.
Police confirmed that a person aged 56 had also died, after a falling tree hit his van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening.
The Met Office extended its rare red warning, which was due to expire at noon on Friday, into Saturday for east Scotland, meaning there is a risk to life from the stormy weather.
Water levels rose rapidly overnight in Angus county, with some parts only accessible by boat by the morning. Emergency crews rescued people trapped in their flooded homes, who had opted to remain despite the evacuation order, and brought them to rest centres.
Passengers were evacuated from a plane that skidded off the runway when landing at Leeds Bradford airport due to wet weather in the afternoon.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue service said they rescued 30 people from homes and businesses in the Brampton area of Chesterfield.
Suffolk county declared a major incident, with fire services asking people not to travel unless “absolutely essential” due to severe flooding and dangerous driving conditions.
Flooding hit Dundee as the Dighty Burn in the city’s Balmossie area burst its banks. Houses adjoining the burn were flooded and cars submerged.
Updated
Here are some images depicting the impact of the wild weather across the UK:
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Firefighters have rescued four people who were trapped on the roof of a vehicle in Trowell in Nottinghamshire, BBC News reports.
The fire service has warned people not to drive through flood water or travel unless necessary.
Updated
Man dies in flood water in Shropshire
A man has died after getting caught in flood water in Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire.
The man in his 60s was said to have gone under fast-flowing water from a brook overflowing on to a road, at about 10.40am, BBC News reports.
West Mercia police said officers quickly attended the scene but the man was found dead at about 12.35pm.
The force said members of the public reported a man went under the water shortly before 10.40am.
Formal identification has yet to take place but the family have been informed and are being supported by officers.
Updated
30 people rescued from homes and businesses in Derbyshire
Derbyshire fire and rescue service says it has rescued 30 people from homes and businesses in the Brampton area of Chesterfield today.
The service is estimating that up to 400 properties may be affected by the River Hipper as water levels continue to rise.
Local people said that water started rising at about 8am, the BBC reports.
A rest centre has been set up at Queen’s Park leisure centre. Other parts of the town are also affected.
Paul Moreland, from Derbyshire fire and rescue service, said:
The rescues that we have carried out in that area highlight the serious nature of the impact of Storm Babet and I need to ensure people listen to our warnings and follow our advice.
Updated
West Yorkshire fire and rescue service said there had been no reported injuries on the plane that came off the runway at Leeds Bradford airport, and no fire.
A spokesperson said:
[Our] command unit has now been stood down, and remaining crews are now assisting in evacuating all persons from the aircraft to the terminal.
Updated
The Guardian’s North of England correspondent, Robyn Vinter, has more detail on the plane that skidded off the runway:
Passengers are being evacuated from a plane that skidded off the runway when landing at Leeds Bradford airport in stormy weather on Friday afternoon.
The Tui flight from Corfu slid on to the grass banking at the airport, England’s highest, due to high winds and heavy rain of Storm Babet at 1.53pm.
A number of emergency crews, including specialist response teams, were at the scene and a fire service spokesperson said teams were helping passengers off the plane. There were no reported injuries.
An airport alarm is understood to have been activated when the Boeing 737-800 failed to land as standard and all flights were diverted to other airports, including Manchester. Flights due to leave were temporarily suspended.
A TUI spokesperson said:
We are aware of an incident at Leeds Bradford airport this afternoon, in which upon landing flight TOM3551 slightly veered off while turning into the taxiway.
There are no reported injuries, and our ground team are on hand to support passengers as they disembark.
A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford airport, said:
We can confirm Tui flight TOM3551 arriving from Corfu at LBA this afternoon has moved off the runway while landing. We are working with the airline, relevant operations teams and emergency authorities to address this situation and remove passengers from the aircraft safely.
Leeds Bradford is notorious among plane spotters as a difficult place to land a plane in a storm and it has featured in a number of viral videos of planes landing in high winds seen all around the world.
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Storm waters have been gathering at the seafront in north Berwick. Here are some images:
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People are sharing images of how Storm Babet is affecting parts of central and north England and Wales on X.
One commenter posted a video of cars driving through deep water, which she said was in the A1 around Nottingham:
If you are travelling today North or South on the A1 around Nottingham through to like Sheffield area- I’d think again. I think they’ll be shutting it any minute now! 🌊🌊🌊 #StormBabet pic.twitter.com/I8JxCap936
— Maegan Luv (@MaeganLuv) October 20, 2023
Another posted images of fast-flowing water in Derbyshire:
Really scary scenes in Baslow, Derbyshire, in the Peak District. #StormBabet @LBC pic.twitter.com/GkVEbdLp0i
— Charlotte Lynch (@charlotterlynch) October 20, 2023
A farmer in Wales posted a video of their sheepdog rescuing sheep cut off by deep water.
Thanks god for little Patsy she #rescue the #sheep that got cut off by the #deepwater. Didn’t get my feet wet either. #StormBabet #sheep #workingdogs #Babet pic.twitter.com/a91YLkcFs0
— Llŷr Derwydd 🏴 (@LlyrDerwydd) October 20, 2023
The train operator ScotRail has warned disruption to services could last until Sunday, with routes that are closed not planned to reopen unless it is deemed safe to do so.
The routes affected are between:
Aberdeen and Elgin
Edinburgh and Aberdeen via Fife
Perth and Aberdeen via Dundee
Dunblane and Perth
Perth and Aviemore
Tain and Wick / Thurso
All Fife circle services
ScotRail said it was taking longer than expected for engineers to inspect routes for damage due to the impact of the weather, and have told customers they should only travel if necessary on routes affected.
Services between Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen/Inverness, and between Edinburgh Waverley and Aberdeen/Inverness are also subject to disruption.
Other routes across the network are still being affected by precautionary speed restrictions, meaning services may be subject to delay or cancellation.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director said the impact of Storm Babet has been “extremely challenging”.
Updated
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed they have attended almost 70 weather related incidents across Scotland including rescues from homes and floodwaters.
SFRS said they had received around 750 emergency calls across Scotland and attended 300 incidents since Thursday.
David Lockhart, assistant chief officer at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said:
We are facing unprecedented flooding in many areas, and we must stress to the public that flood waters should always be avoided. Keep children and pets away from the water and do not travel in or around the affected areas wherever possible.
Our firefighters continue to assist with several rescues from homes, and we would strongly urge everyone to listen to the evacuation warnings and advice from your local authority or the emergency services.
This is a carefully planned and co-ordinated operation to ensure we are best placed to respond to emergencies and protect the welfare of our crews.
Plane comes off runway at Leeds
It has now been confirmed that a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford airport
Emergency services are at the scene at Leeds Bradford airport.
The airport said a Tui flight from Corfu “moved off the runway while landing” and it was working to “remove passengers from the aircraft safely”.
Updated
West Midlands fire service (WMAS) has urged people not to drive through flood water after a car was pushed 30 metres down a fast-flowing river in Northfield, Birmingham.
The driver, a man believed to be in his early 40s, attempted to pass through a ford in The Mill Walk at about 8.30am on Friday, WMAS said.
His vehicle was rapidly pushed downstream into the River Rea before getting stuck, forcing the man to climb to safety on the roof of his vehicle, from where he used a tree branch to make his way to the embankment. He was led to safety by fire crews an hour after the initial 999 calls.
WMAS said he had a “lucky escape”, adding: “We repeat: Do not drive into flood water. It puts you, and our firefighters who respond, in very real danger.”
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Major incident declared in Suffolk
A major incident has been declared in Suffolk, with people asked not to travel unless “absolutely essential”.
Jon Lacey, the county’s chief fire officer, said heavy rain had caused severe flooding in several areas and made driving conditions dangerous, the BBC reports.
He said:
The continuous heavy rainfall across Suffolk is causing severe flooding in several locations but is also making driving conditions more dangerous for everyone. We are therefore asking people to travel only where it is absolutely essential – for example collecting a child from school, accessing medical treatment or returning home from work.
Reducing non-essential travel means more people stay safe and pressure on the emergency services is reduced.
Although the Suffolk Resilience Forum will continue to do all it can to help protect our county, everyone needs to take precautions to ensure they do not put themselves in danger.
We are responding whilst monitoring the situation closely and while the rain is forecast to ease over the weekend, we must all take action to ensure lives are protected.
Fire services were monitoring the situation, he added.
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A flight tracking account on X, formerly Twitter, says the Tui flight TOM23C from Corfu to Leeds Bradford skidded off the runway while landing during Storm Babet.
Emergency services are in attendance, it says.
TUI flight TOM23C from Corfu to Leeds Bradford skidded off the runway whilst landing during Storm Babet.
— SkyScanWorld ✈️🚁📡 (@scan_sky) October 20, 2023
Emergency services are currently in attendance.#StormBabet #leeds pic.twitter.com/V0cEJ0rH3i
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Natural Resources Wales has issued nine flood warnings and 20 flood alerts as a yellow weather warning is in place across much of the country.
Some schools are shut in mid- and north Wales because of flooding nearby. Train routes in the north have also shut and flooding has caused disruption on roads.
Updated
Sunderland University has closed St Peter’s campus because of the weather.
A spokesperson said:
There will be no access to the campus today or over the weekend. The university’s city campus remains open as normal.
Updated
More than 75 people are in rest centres across the Angus region after being forced to leave their flooded homes, said Jacqui Semple, head of risk, resilience and safety for Angus council.
She said more than 50 were in the rest centre in Brechin, with 17 in the one in Montrose and nine in Forfar.
She told the PA news agency:
People are devastated. This is awful. It would be awful. Your house flooded, your belongings, the impact emotionally and physically and everything that goes with that.
They’ve got all of those people who have been affected arriving at our rest centres in such a state – wet, cold, upset and just so unbelievably upset.
She added that people had been rescued from flood water at 60 homes in and around Brechin after refusing previous evacuation efforts.
She said the village of Edzell has been completely cut off, with no emergency access except via helicopter.
Semple said the council was working with the local flood group to provide support and a rest centre had been set up there. She said homes have been evacuated in Monifieth, on the outskirts of Dundee, as well as at Marykirk, on the border with Aberdeenshire.
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A video of a small housing estate in Brechin near the River South Esk shows flats that have been fully submerged in the fast-flowing water.
The video was posted on X by the Royal Meteorological Society’s Iain Cameron.
This is a small housing estate in Brechin, near to the River South Esk. The river is at its highest ever recorded level. Little wonder people were evacuated.
— Iain Cameron (@theiaincameron) October 20, 2023
📹 Alison Gordon/Brechin Community FB page pic.twitter.com/vN0XBE0il0
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The Environment Agency’s flood warnings and flood alerts figures for England have jumped up again, to 185 warnings and 202 alerts.
The figures were at 105 and 177 just two hours ago.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) says the “highest concern” areas continue to be the North Esk and South Esk River.
A severe flood warning in the North Esk region is around Marykirk, with another flood warning for Logie Mill and Craigo. The three severe warnings in the South Esk region are in Brechin, Kinnard/Bridge of Dun, and Finavon and Tannadice.
Sepa also warns there is an increasing risk across the eastern borders of Scotland and in East Lothian.
Updated
A picture of waves crashing against a damaged lighthouse during Storm Babet has been included in this roundup of the best photos from today.
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The chief executive of Aberdeenshire has said that the area has had a “tough 24 hours”.
PA reports that, speaking to BBC Scotland’s Lunchtime Live, Jim Savage said people in the region’s communities “know how to deal with bad weather”.
Savage said there were about 20 road closures and “a couple of thousand” people without power. Police were in the worst-affected areas knocking on doors and ensuring residents were prepared in case of flooding.
Savage said: “Thankfully, unlike some colleagues a bit further south, we have not had the extent of the flooding experience yet so far. But in the same way we do have concerns looking at the weather forecast.”
Savage said there had been a “small number” of people in the five rest centres set up and many others had managed to find accommodation with family or friends.
He urged residents to “take heed” of the warning to stay at home, adding: “This really is a time when it’s to really stay safe and stay at home and look after yourself, most importantly, but if we know more about particular risks we’ll be making sure people are aware.”
Updated
Storm Babet is set to continue into Saturday with widespread impact on transport and infrastructure expected, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has said.
PA reports:
Sepa has issued 12 regional flood alerts, 16 localised flood warnings and five severe flood warnings across Scotland.
The agency said there remains a danger to life, with a large part of central and north-east Scotland expecting more severe weather throughout Friday and into Saturday.
South Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus and the eastern parts of Tayside have had high rainfall.
Sepa said the “highest concern” areas are the North Esk and South Esk River.
A severe flood warning in the North Esk region is around Marykirk, with another flood warning for Logie Mill and Craigo.
The three severe warnings in the South Esk region are in Brechin, Kinnard/Bridge of Dun, and Finavon and Tannadice.
Sepa also warned there was an increasing risk across the eastern borders of Scotland and in East Lothian.
Updated
Shona Robison, Scotland’s deputy first minister, is among the householders affected by overnight flooding in Dundee.
Speaking to BBC Scotland News, Robison said: “The neighbour’s house across the road is flooded, I think there have been trees blocking the burn, so it’s flowing in all directions.
“We’ve had a couple of floods here before, but nothing like this. The neighbours have been here for many more years than I have, and they say they’ve never seen anything like it.
“People are asking if anyone needs anything, but we’re just going to have to wait for it to subside. It’s very difficult to get out at the moment, but folk have been rallying round.”
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Flooding from Storm Babet has led to properties being damaged in Dundee, with roads closed around the city. The council has opened a rest centre for those affected by the severe weather.
In a statement, Dundee City Council said:
“Storm Babet is bringing incredibly challenging conditions, particularly in the north and west of the city.
This includes roads disruption, flood damage to properties and fallen trees.”
“Flood gates at Broughty Ferry and Riverside have been closed due to the heavy rain and high winds.
“Sepa has issued a flood alert for Dundee and Angus.
“Residents in flood-prone areas are recommended to stock up on their own flood prevention including sandbags or door flood stops from DIY stores and builders’ merchants.”
The Guardian’s Scotland editor, Severin Carrell, has the latest on the impact of Storm Babet on Scotland and the rest of the UK:
Flooding hits Dundee
Flooding has hit Dundee as the Dighty Burn in the city’s Balmossie area burst its banks earlier, the BBC reports.
Houses adjoining the burn have been flooded and cars submerged after the water rose dramatically overnight. The nearby West Pitkerro industrial estate was also flooded.
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National Rail inquiries said flooding has blocked all lines running through Swindon.
There is also major disruption in the Midlands and northern England. No trains are running between Derby and Sheffield or Nottingham.
Other routes blocked include between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley; between Shrewsbury and Hereford/Wolverhampton; between Hereford and Birmingham New Street.
There are also no services between Chester and Crewe; between Wrexham Central and Bidston; and between Chester and Hooton.
Updated
Several sections of major Scottish roads are closed due to flooding.
Traffic Scotland said these include:
The A92 closed at Parbroath Crossroads, Fife.
The A90 closed to northbound traffic at Struan Roundabout, Dundee.
The A90 closed to southbound traffic at Stonehaven Junction, Aberdeenshire.
The A90 closed between Myrekirk and Swallow roundabouts, Dundee.
The A85 closed at Huntingtower, near Perth.
Drivers are advised to take care when crossing several bridges, including the A898 Erskine Bridge, West Dunbartonshire; the M90 Queensferry Crossing between Edinburgh and Fife; and the A87 Skye Bridge.
National Highways said the A46 in Leicestershire is closed in both directions between the A606 (near Widmerpool) and A6006 (near Six Hills) due to flooding.
Flood water has also forced the closure of the A52 in Derbyshire eastbound from the B6003 (near Bardills) to the A6007 (near Bramcote).
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Scotland is only in the middle of the severe weather event, according to Pascal Lardet, the flood unit manager at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
He told a media briefing that flooding from rivers and surface waters across Scotland had happened as predicted.
The focus is on the River South Esk in Angus, where there has been extreme rainfall in the past 24 hours.
Lardet said one monitoring station had recorded 175mm of rainfall over 24 hours. The average monthly rainfall is 100mm to 130mm, meaning that more than a month’s rainfall has fallen in the past 24 hours.
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Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf warned the further red warning issued by the Met Office would “intensify” the disruption caused by torrential rain.
Yousaf said the Scottish Government would continue to liaise with local organisations and the emergency services.
“People’s safety is our number one priority,” he wrote.
Further Red weather warning issued by @metoffice for Saturday, this will intensify the disruption already being experienced.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 20, 2023
We continue to liaise with local partners & emergency services. People's safety is our number one priority.
Please listen to the advice being circulated. https://t.co/wt8Cj3oqoo
A lighthouse at the mouth of the River Tyne has been damaged in Storm Babet, port officials said.
With the ongoing dangerous sea conditions, it was not safe to assess the damage to the lighthouse at South Shields, the Port of Tyne authority said.
No traffic was going in and out of the river with 6m of sea swell, it said.
The public have been urged to keep away from the area, particularly the piers, by the port authority, due to the unsafe weather conditions.
All trains between London and south Wales via Bristol Parkway are cancelled, say Great Western Railway, due to flooding on the line near Swindon.
A statement on their website reads:
Train services between London Paddington and Swansea via Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central will be cancelled” and that “disruption is expected until 15:00” later today.
Updated
Met Office analysis suggests that the UK has become wetter over the last few decades, although with significant annual variation.
For example, 2011-2020 was 9% wetter than 1961-1990. From the start of the observational record in 1862, six of the 10 wettest years across the UK have occurred since 1998.
Scotland has experienced the greatest increase in rainfall, while most southern and eastern areas of England have experienced the least change.
The number of days where rainfall totals exceed 95% and 99% of the 1961-1990 average have increased in the last decade, as have rainfall events exceeding 50 mm. Both these trends point to an increase in frequency and intensity of rainfall across the UK.
Because current trends in extreme rainfall are within past natural variation, it can be difficult to isolate effects from climate change. A study using high-resolution climate models predicts that the influence of human-caused climate change is not likely to be seen clearly in short-duration (hourly and shorter timescale) extreme rainfall trends in the UK until at least the 2040s for winter and 2080s for summer.
The latest set of UK climate projections expect the UK to experience wetter winters and drier summers. Rain that falls in summer is likely to be more intense than what the UK currently experiences.
An increase in severe flooding is not necessarily a certainty by the end of the century, the forecaster predicts, and can be mitigated by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and using a combination of natural and human-made barriers.
Updated
Brechin and other parts of Angus are now only accessible by boat, according to the council.
BBC reports:
In an update this morning, the local authority said it had been a “very challenging night”.
It confirmed Brechin’s flood defences were breached around 04am and said at current flood heights “gauges have become unreliable”.
The council said more than 350 homes across Angus were contacted yesterday and advised to evacuate.
A spokesperson said:
We ask that if you are in danger of flooding, please don’t leave it too late. If asked to evacuate, please do so, as hard as it is.
The council say emergency centres in Brechin, Montrose and Forfar are open to all those in need in Angus. Pets are welcome, too.
The PA news agency has been speaking to residents affected by the flooding:
Terri Masson, 33, had moved into her new home in Meikle Mill, in Brechin, only on Thursday when she was told by the council she would have to leave at 4.30pm.
While her home has not been hit by the flooding, it is one of hundreds in the evacuation zone. The mother of five asked friends from Montrose to come and collect her from the town.
She said:
I moved in yesterday and was in not even two hours and got told to evacuate. I hadn’t even unpacked my stuff, nothing. I had just started to unpack and they came to the door and they were like ‘you have to go’. We left about quarter past five.
I knew Brechin could flood when the weather is bad, but I’ve never been in the middle of something like this. It was scary for the kids – we got out as quick as we could.
Updated
Second person dies in Angus during Storm Babet
A second person has died as Storm Babet brings high winds, torrential rain and severe flooding to parts of Scotland.
BBC reports:
Police have confirmed that a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening, killing the 56-year-old driver.
Emergency services attended the scene on the B0127 at Whigstreet at about 5.05pm.
Officers said the man, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene and the road remains closed.
Earlier, the body of a 57-year-old woman swept into a river in Angus was recovered on Thursday.
Updated
Met Office extends red warning into Saturday for east Scotland
The Met Office has issued a new red warning for all day Saturday.
The initial warning was due to expire at noon on Friday, but a new warning is in place for Saturday, from midnight to midnight. It covers Angus county and parts of Aberdeenshire, representing much of the area between Dundee and Aberdeen.
A red warning means there is danger to life from fast flowing or deep flood water, extensive flooding to homes and businesses, collapsed or damaged buildings or structures, road closures and bus and train service delays and cancellations, dangerous driving conditions because of spray and flooded roads, loss of power and other essential services, such as gas, water and mobile phone service and communities completely cut off, perhaps for several days.
The Met Office said:
Prolonged and very heavy rain is expected to develop across parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire area throughout Saturday, in areas already affected by severe flooding.
Accumulations of 70-100mm are expected over a period of 18-24 hours, the highest accumulations over the hills.
Less rainfall is expected around coastal areas, but impacts from the higher rainfall further west will extend towards the coast.
Amber warnings are also in place for Saturday for much of east Scotland.
BBC meteorologist Simon King said:
While the rain has eased across eastern Scotland, the impacts of the torrential rain of the last 36 hours is being felt with severe flooding.
The lull in the rain may feel like good news but unfortunately things could go from bad to worse as further heavy rain is set to move in on Saturday.
With the ground so saturated, an additional 70-100 mm of rain expected in Angus and Aberdeenshire - particularly over the Grampians – will quickly add to the high river levels.
The threat to life and property will continue which is why the Met Office have issued this second rare red warning.
Updated
The Met Office has posted the latest rainfall totals since midnight on the 19th on X.
Waterside Perth comes out top, with 16.4cm of rain.
The record for Scotland is 23.8cm of rain was measured at Sloy Main Adit in Argyll & Bute between 9am on 17 January 1974 and 9am the next day.
Here are the latest rainfall totals since midnight on the 19th October⚠️#StormBabet pic.twitter.com/MnJvoT1hQr
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 20, 2023
Updated
Here are some of the latest images from Brechin, where flood water reached window-sill height this morning and emergency services are rescuing people stuck in their homes.
Updated
Aberdeenshire council has confirmed that supplies of sandbags have been “depleted” and will not be replenished.
A spokesperson for the council urged residents not to go to any road depots for sandbags as crews were focused on providing “direct support” in communities.
The local authority also confirmed rest centres would continue to stay open in Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore. They urged residents not to travel unless it was “absolutely essential”.
Updated
A video from a river webcam posted on X shows the impact of Storm Babet on the rapidly rising North Esk River over the past 18 hours:
Last 18 hours on the North Esk river webcam at Gannochy Bridge in Edzell. Our local river webcams are available here: https://t.co/wEdZRLGa2G - #StormBabet #Babet #Scotland #SevereWeather #Angus #Laurencekirk #flood #Aberdeenshire pic.twitter.com/teI2EAS6u9
— Glyn (@farsondigital) October 20, 2023
The latest live flooding information from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency says there are five severe flood warnings, 16 flood warnings, and 12 flood alerts in place across the east of Scotland and Orkney.
The severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, are in Marykirk in Aberdeenshire and Logie Mill and Craigo, Kinnaird/Bridge of Dun, Finavon and Tannadice and Brechin, all in Angus council.
Local residents have been posting videos on X to demonstrate the power of Storm Babet.
One commenter posted a video in which he kicks a football into the air, only for it to be returned by the force of the wind:
#Babet #StormBabet
— Robin Hood 🏹 (@goodrobinhood) October 20, 2023
"Me playing football against Babet..." pic.twitter.com/BfLwVbCzaS
Another video depicts a train station in the Midlands:
Wood End train station in #Warwickshire this morning.
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) October 20, 2023
The boat will be arriving in 3mins!#SevereWeather #Angus #StormBabet #Babet #Floodingpic.twitter.com/9jo4eD1nLm
Another says is showing waves estimated at 7m high in Tynemouth:
What a storm Babet. 7M high waves. The message I am shouting but canno hear from wind is "You have to weather the storm before you can expect the sunshine. #tynemouth pic.twitter.com/wYLMnd3u5H
— Dr. Maurice Duffy (@DrMauriceDuffy) October 20, 2023
Updated
The PA news agency has been speaking to Brechin residents in the rest centre.
Tracy Taylor left her home in Middleton Park, close to the river Esk, at 7am on Friday when its banks burst.
She said:
It is bad down there. We’ve been here since seven o’clock.
Taylor said there were “a lot” of other people in the rest centre.
When asked if she and her family had decided to leave their home or if they were evacuated, Taylor said “it was a bit of both”, adding they were worried about what would happen to their home.
Updated
Parts of Angus county only accessible by boat
Parts of Angus county are now only accessible by boat after flooding, according to Angus council.
A spokesperson for the council told the PA news agency:
Over 350 homes across Angus were contacted yesterday and advised to evacuate. Brechin, and increasingly other parts of Angus, are now only accessible via boat.
Rescue crews are now dealing with over 100 calls from areas which were asked to evacuate yesterday evening.
Emergency rest centres in Brechin, Montrose and Forfar are open to all those in need in Angus, pets are welcome too.
We ask that anyone attending a rest centre brings with them all the supplies they need, along with sleeping bags and medication to last them over the weekend.
Updated
Angus Council is appealing for donations of warm clothing after more than 40 people arrived at its rest centres in soaked clothes.
There have been more than 100 calls for help after an area covering hundreds of homes was advised on Thursday to evacuate, with conditions expected to deteriorate into the weekend, PA reports.
The council said:
Angus is in the middle of a very serious emergency following a very challenging night.
Brechin defences were breached around 4am this morning.
River levels are around 4.4m above normal levels and continuing to increase as Storm Babet persists. This is completely unprecedented and at these heights, gauges have become unreliable.
The Met Office red weather warning remains in place until 12pm today (Friday 20 October) with rain expected to fall well into Saturday.
We expect conditions to deteriorate well into the weekend before we are able to determine the extent of the damage and begin recovery following Storm Babet.
Updated
With waters in the Scottish town of Brechin still rising, a local councillor has warned that some people may not be back in flooded homes by Christmas.
PA reports:
Gavin Nicol said the town’s flood barriers are 3.8m high but the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned the water could reach 5m. Angus council has said the South Esk river is 4.4 metres higher than usual.
He said:
With the amount of rain we’re getting it might even supersede that. It’s just a disaster. The water is not going down, it is still rising.
My thoughts go out to those affected. With this time of year, it’s coming up to Christmas, and some people might not even get back in their homes by then.
Nicol, Conservative representative for the Brechin and Edzell Ward on Angus council, said high tide at around 5pm on Friday could pose a particular problem.
He added that the flooding in Brechin is far worse than previous times:
The water is sitting at windowsill-height currently – with floods in the past we’ve just been ankle-deep in water, if that.
He said since around 6am rescue teams, including the police, coastguard and fire service, have been helping people from their flooded homes by boat. They are also rescuing upstairs residents who are stuck with no power and in some cases no working toilets.
There’s one or two cars floating about.
These houses will not be habitable in the near future. It’s not just water – there’s sewage as well.
Updated
Good morning,
After eastern Scotland was ravaged by Storm Babet yesterday, it looks set to be another difficult day for rescue services.
A search involving a helicopter is being carried out in Aberdeenshire after reports of a man trapped in his vehicle during flooding. The coastguard and police are searching an area near Marykirk, which is near the North Esk river, after the alarm was raised around 3am on Friday. Police Scotland are asking the public to avoid the area for their safety.
Our latest report on the fifth severe flood warning to be issued Scotland, and the first confirmed fatality, is here:
There is also disruption in the Midlands, the north-east of England, and north Wales where a Met Office amber warning is in place.
National Rail Enquiries says:
All train services are disrupted in north-east England and Yorkshire because of severe weather.
Some lines are blocked between Sheffield and Lincoln due to flooding.
Trains are unable to call at Rotherham.
A speed restriction because of high winds is also in place between Newcastle and Edinburgh, causing delays.
All lines are affected between Worcester Foregate Street and Stratford-upon-Avon, between Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham Spa, and between Longbridge and Bromsgrove
The railway is blocked between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley, and between Hereford and Shrewsbury.
Some lines are closed between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.
Speed restrictions are in place between Birmingham International and Coventry.
The railway between Sheffield and Derby was blocked by a fallen tree earlier on Friday but has since reopened.
Lines between north-west England and north Wales are closed due to flooding, including all lines between Chester and Crewe, between Wrexham Central and Bidston, and between Hooton and both Chester and Ellesmere Port.
Some lines are also blocked between Crewe and Shrewsbury due to flooding.
We’ll be keeping you updated with all the key developments today. Please do get in touch with images or news from your local area – you can reach me on X or by email.
