Storm Henk triggers widespread flooding and travel chaos
Following Storm Henk's wrath across the UK, travel faces serious disruptions on Wednesday, and hundreds of flood alerts remain.
A man in his fifties lost his life in Gloucestershire on Tuesday when his car was crushed by a fallen tree, confirm police.
The storm brought strong winds and heavy downpours to England and Wales.
England is under nearly 300 flood warnings, with thousands experiencing power outages due to downed trees.
Billing Aquadrome in Northampton faces severe flooding, posing life-threatening dangers, prompting evacuations due to the swollen River Nene.
The West Midlands' River Severn vicinity is flooded, marking some areas' fourth flood this winter, reports BBC's Phil Mackie in Worcester.
South-western Wales' River Ritec also has severe flood warnings, with Kiln Park caravan site residents near Tenby warned of limited vehicle access and potential sewage leaks.
Wales has eight flood warnings in effect, and one is issued for Scotland.
The Met Office alerts southern England to potential further flooding and disruption with a yellow rain warning from Thursday noon to early Friday.
Tuesday's flooding and outages caused UK rail network issues, persisting into Wednesday.
Network Rail predicts continued disruptions, especially in the south and south-west.
Several trains are displaced, causing cancellations and service suspensions, with lines like South Western Railway and Great Western Railway affected. Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, and Southeastern face obstacles while repair work is underway. Travelers are advised to check their routes before commuting.
Major roads, including the A52 in Nottingham, are closed due to flooding.
Energy Networks Association's Ross Easton reports 125,000 homes restored power, but 10,000 remain cut off, mainly in central and southeastern England.
The storm caused hazardous conditions and tree falls, including an incident in Orpington where an injured woman was hospitalized.
The Isle of Wight recorded Tuesday's highest gusts at 94mph.
After hitting Scandinavia, the storm clears, and the UK anticipates lighter winds and sunnier weather.
BBC Weather's Simon King forecasts settled conditions with high pressure leading to dry, sunny days but colder air returning.
Henk, named only hours before hitting due to its initial small size, marks the eighth storm in three months.
The link between climate change and storm frequency is unclear, but warmer sea surfaces amplify storms' intensity. Global warming continues due to human activity, threatening more severe weather events unless emissions are reduced.
2023 is the UK's second warmest year on record since the Met Office began keeping records, with 2022 being the warmest due to human-induced climate shifts.
The storm brought strong winds and heavy downpours to England and Wales.
England is under nearly 300 flood warnings, with thousands experiencing power outages due to downed trees.
Billing Aquadrome in Northampton faces severe flooding, posing life-threatening dangers, prompting evacuations due to the swollen River Nene.
The West Midlands' River Severn vicinity is flooded, marking some areas' fourth flood this winter, reports BBC's Phil Mackie in Worcester.
South-western Wales' River Ritec also has severe flood warnings, with Kiln Park caravan site residents near Tenby warned of limited vehicle access and potential sewage leaks.
Wales has eight flood warnings in effect, and one is issued for Scotland.
The Met Office alerts southern England to potential further flooding and disruption with a yellow rain warning from Thursday noon to early Friday.
Tuesday's flooding and outages caused UK rail network issues, persisting into Wednesday.
Network Rail predicts continued disruptions, especially in the south and south-west.
Several trains are displaced, causing cancellations and service suspensions, with lines like South Western Railway and Great Western Railway affected. Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, and Southeastern face obstacles while repair work is underway. Travelers are advised to check their routes before commuting.
Major roads, including the A52 in Nottingham, are closed due to flooding.
Energy Networks Association's Ross Easton reports 125,000 homes restored power, but 10,000 remain cut off, mainly in central and southeastern England.
The storm caused hazardous conditions and tree falls, including an incident in Orpington where an injured woman was hospitalized.
The Isle of Wight recorded Tuesday's highest gusts at 94mph.
After hitting Scandinavia, the storm clears, and the UK anticipates lighter winds and sunnier weather.
BBC Weather's Simon King forecasts settled conditions with high pressure leading to dry, sunny days but colder air returning.
Henk, named only hours before hitting due to its initial small size, marks the eighth storm in three months.
The link between climate change and storm frequency is unclear, but warmer sea surfaces amplify storms' intensity. Global warming continues due to human activity, threatening more severe weather events unless emissions are reduced.
2023 is the UK's second warmest year on record since the Met Office began keeping records, with 2022 being the warmest due to human-induced climate shifts.
