Storm Babet - Extreme rainfall NE Scotland and widely elsewhere*

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2023-10-19

An unusually early warning for the low possibility of some extreme rainfall for NE Scotland at the end of the week. Note the text of the warning!

Please keep a close eye on this one and be prepared to act if necessary. Ensure that if you live in an at risk area that you are ready.
https://ready.scot/respond/severe-weather/rain-and-flooding

*[Please note - title edited again by MNHQ at OP's request to reflect evolving situation]

Yes, it really didn't feel particularly windy, just lots of heavy rain on already saturated ground so not much chance to drain away and soak into the ground.

Thankyou for this , DD really wants to attend but it just may not be possible.
If we don’t make it this weekend hopefully we can arrange something similar.

Our area has gone from amber to red from 18 00 until midday tomorrow 😬 I do hope this storm doesn't end up costing us a fortune in repairs 🤞🏻.

@QuietFlame DD is currently at StA and we live nearby if you want me to ask any questions. She LOVES it there but moved from a tiny rural community so likes the size.

Here's that extension that Guilty mentions.
Please do keep checking back to the Met Office as this situation evolves.

This is a reminder of what happened earlier this month in southern and central highlands. Some places are expected to get double this amount of rainfall this time. This is not a 'normal' autumn event.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2023/2023_07_scotland_rain.pdf

An evacution for Brechin.
Evolving fast is this storm, a wider yellow area has been put in place too.

They're reporting on Sky News just now that residents of Brechin are being urged to evacuate, yikes, that's pretty rare.

We're in Arbroath and DH is a bus driver. He's meant to be driving a bus to Perth and back, getting back to town at 7.30pm despite other buses all being stopped at 6pm. I'm really hoping this extended red warning area has that bus called off too.

DH is from Brechin originally. It's likely to be River Street which is being evacuated. There's a very steep slope from the high street down there and it's (unsurprisingly!) very close to the river. Worrying though.

I’m going to pop in to see my Nan today, make sure she has everything she needs for the next few days.
We’re under the Amber area but may affect people getting stuff to her, she doesn’t get out much these days but dont want her to be without.
Hoping thay everyone stays safe, no matter the warning they are under. It’s very worrying.

Where are Brechin residents being asked to go? Are the roads safe for them to get out?

Depending on the flood risk where you are, it might be better for those with cars to walk instead. Wellies to the ready! I'll be thinking of all on this thread today, as I am going to stay put in my flat, and am OK for milk, tea, grub, and tobacco.

I would consider picking up at lunchtime Listenlinda.

Just look at the number of warnings out for tomorrow now!

If I were the Met Office warnings team I'd be tempted to just scribble all over the map 'bloody awful - stay inside and drink tea'.

It looks like the new amber warning is up around the Pennines. It's pretty hard to tell where it extends to on the Met office maps on a mobile as there is no detail on them. We're well outside that area but what tends to happen is that Durham floods when the water comes down, the day after and I expect York will be the same.

My brother lives just outside Brechin. He's staying put for now in his tiny farmworkers cottage and hoping the roof repairs he has just done stand up to the onslaught! Pretty much guaranteed to be flooded as he's close to the North Esk.

Thanks.
yes I think it is the size and location that appeal to DD.
It is unlikely that we will make the Open Day this weekend so if she receives an offer we will travel up to look at the town etc .
Hopefully in more clement weather!

Anyone travelling by train in Scotland check Scotrail website first. Today all trains between Aberdeen & Inverness cancelled plus a load from Edinburgh & Glasgow - comes under "minor disruption" 🙄.

Heads up - The amount of rain we are getting I can't see them running tomorrow.

Some buses now cancelled also. Trees down are a problem.

Some Aberdeenshire areas now without power.

This is in the Amber warning areas.

We're now in the red area, and I hope I've persuaded DP to come home early. V wet and windy this am, not looking forward to tonight. Thoughts are with people in Brechin.

Wind has dropped a lot now in Central Fife,fortunately. It was wild this morning

Eek Cheshire has gone to an Amber and am out at a wedding tomorrow evening. Hope the taxi can pick us up!

@QuietFlame we are booked to attend on Saturday too so have had a look on the StA website for updates. They are running a virtual open day on 1 November where you can book subject talks so we are considering doing this instead of going. I don't have as far to drive as you but the road is a bad one in horrible weather

@PickAChew Weardale (ie upstream from ~Wolsingham) floods on the day. If the ground is saturated, then while it is actually raining, you get run-off from hillside fields in Wear Valley, and the western outskirts of Durham (roughly Bishop Auckland almost to Houghall for the purposes of this thread). This immediate runs down to the roads. So then you have roads like the A690 and the backroads near Brandon, etc, impassable because of flooding in the dips in the road.

We were in Lynmouth at the weekend where 35 people were killed in 1952 as a result of floods. Just horrendous looking at the list of names on the memorial.

Even more shocking is that I’ve just googled it and apparently declassified documents have now shown that the flood was caused by a government experiment Operation Cumulus which had the purpose of trying to artificially create rain/snow.

Posted too early!

sorry the point was that floodwater is lethal. It isn’t worth taking risks just to attend meetings/school etc. if you’re in a red or amber zone you should stay at home

Thankyou so much for that!