storms

Met Office says there is no 'definitive answer' to cause of freak weather

The Met Office says there is 'no definitive answer' to what has caused the exceptional weather so far this year.

However, in a paper it says there is "evidence that shows that extreme daily rainfall rates are becoming more intense, and that the rate of increase is consistent with what is expected from the fundamental physics of a warming world".

The Met Office paper states: "...

80mph winds expected as Devon prepares for another battering

The South West is preparing for another battering with strong winds and rain forecast for the weekend.

The Met Office have issued a yellow warning for rain and an amber wind alert with gusts of up to 80mph expected, valid until 6am on Sunday.

Surf forecasters have predicted wave heights of 35ft, particularly around the southern coastline of Devon and Cornwall, presenting...

More severe weather forecast for Plymouth

Residents and businesses in Plymouth are being warned to expect more heavy rain and strong winds this weekend.

Grand Parade, Madeira Road, Radford Road and Pier Street on the Plymouth waterfront remain closed following damage to walls and restaurants earlier in the week.

Amey engineers along with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have been reviewing the infrastructure...

Concerns over 'meaningless promises' on rail resilience funding

Concerns have been raised that the £31.1m promised by the Government last year to secure the South West’s railways against severe weather was not delivered, despite widespread support from local authorities.

The money was promised by the Government for a programme of rail improvements, after winter flooding cut off rail transport to the South West peninsula for several weeks in 2012/13...

City affected by severe weather

Four roads across the city remain closed following heavy rain and strong winds.

Grand Parade, Madeira Road, Radford Road and Pier Street were closed this morning following damage to two walls; one on Madeira Road and other by the Drakes View Hotel. The Wet Wok and Waterfront restaurants have also suffered severe damage and flooding.

Multi-agency response teams have been on site...

Plea to help clean storm damaged beaches

After a Christmas and New Year period that saw Britain battered by high winds, lashing rain and storm waves believed to be amongst the most extreme in living memory, many of the UK’s beaches have been left strewn with huge amounts of litter.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which organises the annual Beachwatch Big Weekend in September when thousands of people clean and survey...

Increasing risk of “Extreme El Niños”, research shows

The risk of extreme versions of the El Niño weather phenomenon will double over the coming decades due to global warming, new research has shown.

The frequency of ‘extreme El Niños’ could see a twofold increase as the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean warms faster than the surrounding regions.

The last major events in 1982-3 and 1997-98, when sea surface temperatures exceeding...

30ft waves as Storm "Hercules" hits Devon

Forecasters are warning that waves upwards of 30ft as “Winter Storm Hercules” hits Devon.

The storm has been confirmed to be the same weather system responsible for the recent “Deep-Freeze” in the US by the Met Office.

The latest storm is expected to see 60mph and 70mph winds and higher than usual waves.

According to the Met Office’s, Chief Forecaster: “A large, deep...

Two 'severe' flood warnings remain at low tide

Only two severe flood warnings remain in place this afternoon in the South West.

The high tide around 8pm tonight is expected to be lower than last night but could still see a higher than usual flood risk.

However Met Office warnings against severe wind and rain will continue to remain in place through to the evening with a further weather warning for rain issued for Sunday...

RSPCA urges pet owners to make sure animals are safe in storms

The RSPCA is warning owners to make sure their animals are safe ahead of new storms expected over the next couple of days.

Many people have struggled over the Christmas period after torrential weather hit parts of England and Wales. Heavy rain and high winds could also pose a threat to wildlife, horses and livestock and the RSPCA has received hundreds of calls about animals which have...

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