Storm chaos to SMASH Britain TODAY: Brian hurtling towards UK as ARMY put on standby

Gales of up to 80mph will rage throughout today,
sparking warnings of flying debris, travel chaos and
coastal flooding.
The Army was on standby as the Environment Agency
issued 32 flood alerts and two more serious flood
warnings urging “immediate action”.
Safety campaigners have advised elderly and
vulnerable people to stay indoors.
While the strength of the wind will be the rain and
huge waves whipped up during high tides threaten
coastal regions.
Some 1,200 troops are at the ready with Brian
threatening worse chaos than former hurricane
Ophelia’s assault on the west coast on Monday.
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Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “There are three
UK standby battalions – 1,200 personnel – held at high
readiness to deal with contingencies, including those
related to weather.
“So far there have been no requests for assistance but
they are ready to be deployed in any storm-hit areas if
needed.”
The Met Office has issued warnings for severe
weather across a swathe of the UK until midnight
tonight.
Regions in the firing line include the East Midlands,
East Anglia, London and the Southeast, north-west and
southwest England, Wales and the West Midlands.
While the worst of the weather will have died down by
tonight the tail end of the storm will bring more wind
and rain tomorrow.
Storm Brian in pictures: UK
prepares for the worst
Fri, October 20, 2017
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Operations manager Dave Miller with Michael Davis
and Kieth Poweell from the Environment Agency's
operation team lay sandbags at a flood defence
barrier in Fowey, Cornwall [SWNS.com]
SWNS.COM 1 of 10
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: “We are
expecting gusts to be widely in excess of 50mph with
around 70mph in coastal areas. The strongest winds
will arrive in western parts of England and Wales early
this morning before gradually those strong winds
transfer eastwards across the country by late morning
and early afternoon.
“The strong winds will coincide with high tides bringing
the threat of dangerous waves in places. Brian will
start to pull away by Sunday and we will see improving
conditions across the UK.”
Environment Agency engineers yesterday lined roads in
the town of Fowey, Cornwall, with waterproof barriers.
It is the first time the barricades, usually reserved for
when rivers burst their banks, have been used along
the Cornish coast.
Malcolm Booth, chief executive of the National
Federation of Occupational Pensioners, urged elderly
people to stay at home during the worst of the
weather.
“It would be wise to avoid going out if at all possible
to avoid any risk of harm during this particularly bad
and potentially deadly period of weather,” he said.
Regions which dodged Monday’s battering are unlikely
to escape Brian’s fury today, forecasters have warned.
Exacta Weather’s James Madden said: “Parts of the
country can expect severe gales with northern,
western and southern areas particularly at risk. Here
we could see gusts of between 50mph and 70mph.
“This could have the potential to uproot trees and
cause disruption. Although southern areas did not feel
the brunt of Ophelia, they certainly will feel the impact
this time round.
“We are urging people to keep an eye on local weather
forecasts as changes could increase the overall
severity and damage potential of the storm.”
Sara Thornton, of online forecasting service
weathertrending, warned Brian could cause worse
carnage than Ophelia.
Storm Brian: Latest maps
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Bringing you the latest weather forecast path maps
as Storm Brian is set to hit UK this weekend.
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Storm Brian swell forecast today [Magicseaweed]
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“Brian is set to slam into south-west England this
morning and could cause greater disruption to the UK
than Ophelia, which focused most of its destructive
power on Ireland.
“While Brian didn’t originate in the Tropics and so
can’t claim the honour of being a former hurricane, it
is a deep depression that is exploding into life, like a
bomb,” she said.
“Such weather bombs are not uncommon but this one
will come armed with 70mph winds and a barrage of
heavy rain, and unlike Ophelia, which gave the UK a
glancing blow and focused its ire on Ireland, Brian is
heading straight towards us.
“It once more puts the British Isles squarely in the
firing line of some very windy and wet weather.”
Weather Company forecaster Eleanor Bell said more
than an inch of rain will fall in a matter of hours today.
“By midday we could have 20mm to 30mm of rain
over high ground in Wales and the Pennines.
“Winds are expected to reach 40 to 50mph with
coastal gusts of 70mph and perhaps 80mph in exposed
regions.”
The AA has warned drivers to expect delays due to
water and debris on roads.
It advised families heading off for half term to prepare
for disruption and pack an emergency travel kit.
Spokesman Vince Crane said: “The combination of
heavy rain and strong winds will create some very poor
driving conditions. There is the potential for roads to
be affected by debris, standing water, closures and
diversions.
“Drivers will need to take extra care and expect
delays, even on motorways.”

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