It may officially be the start of the great British summer, but so far, June has brought with it torrential rain, wind speeds of up to 65mph and 40 ft waves in coastal areas.
The country has been battered by the severe weather and it looks set to continue, with an amber weather warning issued by the Met Office. Gail force winds of up to 70 mph are expected as well as heavy winds, as authorities warn of an Atlantic storm.
So far, areas set to be most affected by the weather include London, Wales, the East and West Midlands, the South East and West of England and East England.
Senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, Brendan Jones, said: “Winds will increase this afternoon in Devon and Cornwall and there could be gusts of 60 to 65mph or even 70mph on exposed coasts and headlands. Through tonight and Friday, the centre of the storm will move slowly north east, touching areas as far away as north Wales and exiting Britain as far north as Northumberland.”
The weather is said to be out of character for June, with the country suffering from some of the worst droughts in history this time last year.
It’s now thought that the hose pip ban imposed earlier this year could be lifted early as a result of the heavy rain, with Thames Water saying that it is unlikely to last until the autumn anymore, unless there is a sudden dramatic change in the weather.
With schools on their half-term holidays this week, the public have been warned to take special care when out in this weather, as the winds could cause damage to trees and blow tiles off roofs. Disruption to roads may also have an effect on the traffic and could cause accidents. There is also the risk of flooding, especially in coastal areas.
There have already been causalities, with flooded homes, one woman trapped in her car and a yachtsmen rescued from sea.
If you have to leave the house in this weather, make sure you take the proper precautions.
