The Met Office has christened the storm set to have significant weather implications from Wednesday to Saturday as Storm Babet. This tempest, the second to be named this autumn, is expected to inflict heavy rainfall and high winds across the United Kingdom, with cautionary alerts already in place.
Anticipated effects could include wind-based destruction and flooding, and while certain aspects of the forecast remain unclear, the public is encouraged to stay abreast of future updates. Arriving from the southwestern direction on Wednesday, Storm Babet, pronounced Bah-beht, is expected to slow its pace, with its influences persisting until Saturday.
The list of names for storms potentially poised to strike the UK and Ireland in 2023-24 includes Ciarán, Kathleen, and Vincent.
Notably, a grave concern looms for central and eastern Scotland, despite many regions of the UK facing the prospect of significant rainfall. Compounded by recent heavy rain in Scotland, the already saturated terrains are expected to grapple with further intense and lengthy rainfalls from Wednesday to Saturday. Data suggests potential rainfall accumulation could range from 70mm to 100mm, increasing to 150-200mm in upland areas.
Already, the Met Office has issued a yellow severe weather warning, emphasizing particular concern for Angus and south-east Grampian where the flood risk is high. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, monitoring the developing situation, has likewise issued early flood warnings for central Scotland.
With Storm Babet expected to sweep in from the Atlantic, from midweek until week’s end, winds are predicted to intensify, peaking around Thursday and early Friday. Northern Scotland could experience gusts reaching 70mph, with the majority of areas witnessing widespread speeds of 40-50mph. The unusual south-easterly wind direction could amplify the storm’s impact, given that the UK’s infrastructure and natural environment are primarily adapted to handle south-westerly winds, as evinced by the wide-reaching disruption triggered by Storm Arwen in 2021.
Despite sophisticated weather modeling underscoreing the potential for severe weather, uncertainties cloud the finer details of Storm Babet’s trajectory and impact. The Met Office, having advanced the naming of the storm, anticipates that this early alert will aid in preparedness efforts by affected communities and officials. As the storm is yet to fully form, the Met Office’s weather forecasters continue to monitor incoming data, refining their predictions and warnings as required.
