Forecasters have issued a stark warning that the United Kingdom is not yet clear of severe weather dangers, with the threat of flooding now looming large in the wake of Storm Goretti.
From Gales to Floodwaters: The New Threat
The Met Office has cautioned that a combination of heavy rain and rapidly melting snow and ice could trigger significant flooding across parts of the country. This new concern follows the devastation caused by Storm Goretti last week, which brought gusts approaching 100mph and led to a rare red wind warning for the South West.
Meteorologist Tom Morgan stated that Sunday night would bring "wet and windy weather," with the main hazard shifting from wind to water. He explained that rising temperatures would cause a "rapid thaw" across northern regions, and the resultant snowmelt, combined with further rainfall, is likely to cause flooding over the coming days.
Widespread Disruption and Ongoing Alerts
The aftermath of the storm continues to be felt nationwide. As of Sunday evening, more than 12,000 properties were still without power, according to the National Grid. National Rail has advised that disruption to train services could persist until Monday.
Multiple weather alerts remain active. A yellow warning for rain covers north-western Scotland until 10am on Monday, with up to 110mm of rain possible in areas like Skye and Argyll. A separate yellow wind warning for the same region, where gusts could reach 85mph, is in place until 8am on Monday.
Flood warnings are proliferating across the UK's environmental agencies:
- The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had 12 flood alerts and 8 flood warnings active. David Morgan, Sepa's flood duty manager, highlighted the greatest risk in Dumfries and Galloway, and the west and north of Scotland.
- The Environment Agency for England issued 4 flood warnings (flooding expected) and 85 flood alerts (flooding possible).
- Natural Resources Wales listed 6 flood alerts.
Critical Impact on Water Supplies and Infrastructure
The storm has severely impacted water infrastructure, particularly in the South East and South West. Government minister Mary Creagh described ongoing water supply issues as "entirely unacceptable" after chairing an emergency meeting with water companies.
South East Water reported that treatment works had been affected by the storm, and burst mains due to freeze-thaw conditions had depleted drinking water stores. Customers in areas of West Sussex and Kent faced no water or low pressure, with full restoration not expected until the end of the weekend.
The situation was described as "devastating" by South West Water. In Helston, Cornwall, six major water mains were severely damaged by uprooted trees—around 30 to 40 of which fell during the storm. While repair works are ongoing and supplies have been restored to over half of those affected, many customers remain without water.
Tragically, police confirmed a man in his 50s was found dead in a caravan in Helston after a tree fell onto the vehicle during the storm.
Unsettled Week Ahead
Looking forward, the Met Office predicts a milder but persistently unsettled week. Monday is expected to see highs of around 11C in England and Wales, and up to 7C in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Tom Morgan summarised the outlook: "It will generally be a fairly wet and windy and unsettled week to come, with showers or longer spells of rain with some dry interludes too." He indicated Wednesday might be the driest day, but overall, conditions will remain changeable, with temperatures closer to the seasonal average.
Authorities are urging the public in affected regions to stay informed, prepare for difficult travel conditions, and be aware of the ongoing flood risk as the clean-up from Storm Goretti continues.
