- Storm Ingrid: What’s Happening
- Storm Ingrid — named by Portugal’s national weather service — has brought heavy rain, strong winds and unsettled weather across parts of the UK as it moves northward over the weekend. (Wikipedia)
- The Met Office has issued multiple yellow weather warnings for rain and wind in several regions, warning of rainfall totals of 20–50 mm or more, gusts up to around 50–60 mph in exposed areas, and possible flooding on already saturated ground. (The Independent)
Weather Warnings and Areas Affected
While different outlets describe slightly varying lists of places, warnings include many parts of south-west England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — with a total of around 22 distinct areas mentioned in some reports. (The Independent)
The warnings include:
Yellow warnings for rain and wind
- South-west England — Cornwall, Devon and Somerset
- Wales — a number of counties including southwest areas
- Scotland — parts of eastern and other regions
- Northern Ireland — counties such as Antrim, Down, Londonderry, Fermanagh and Tyrone
(This list reflects various warnings showing coverage across roughly 20+ UK areas.) (The Independent)
These warnings typically mean:
- Heavy rain likely, possibly causing local flooding and difficult driving conditions. (The Independent)
- Strong winds possible, which can bring travel disruption and coastal hazards. (The Sun)
Impacts Already Seen
- In south-west England, parts of historic infrastructure — including sections of the Teignmouth Victorian pier — were washed away by high waves and storm surge during the peak of Storm Ingrid’s impact. (The Guardian)
- Flood alerts and warnings remain widespread nationwide, with over 140 flood alerts reported in some coverage, indicating flooding is possible or expected in areas affected by heavy rain and storm conditions. (The Sun)
What the Warnings Mean
The yellow warnings issued by the Met Office signal that:
- Weather conditions may cause some travel delays and local flooding. (The Independent)
- People should remain aware of forecasts and prepare for impacts, especially on roads or near rivers and coastlines. (The Independent)
Here’s a detailed, news-based roundup with case studies and comments on the Met Office issuing weather warnings for around 22 UK areas ahead of Storm Ingrid — including real impacts, quotes, and analysis from reliable outlets:
What the Met Office Warned
The Met Office issued multiple yellow weather warnings for rain and strong winds as Storm Ingrid moved in from the southwest, expected to bring heavy rain, localized flooding and gusty winds across large parts of the UK. (Met Office)
- Areas under warning: parts of southwest England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and eastern England were covered by these warnings at various times, accounting for around 22 distinct affected zones across the country. (Wikipedia)
- Rainfall and winds: models forecast 20-40 mm rain widely, with 50 mm or more in exposed locations, and strong gusts up to ~60 mph on coasts and high ground. (Met Office)
- Why it mattered: the ground was already saturated from prior wet weather, meaning flooding and travel disruption were more likely as more rain fell. (The Independent)
Official Met Office messaging stressed public awareness and caution, highlighting possible disruption to transport, surface water flooding and coastal hazards. (Met Office)
Case Studies: Impacts Seen on the Ground
Teignmouth, Devon – Historic Pier Damage
In Teignmouth on the Devon coast, powerful waves tied to Storm Ingrid washed away part of the Victorian pier, a significant local landmark. Local officials described it as a shock to the community and lamented damage to nearby benches, paving and infrastructure. Disruption to rail services also followed. (The Guardian)
Mayor Cate Williams commented that the high winds and waves were “unusually strong,” damaging not just the pier but also public spaces along the seafront. (The Guardian)
Widespread Flood Alerts Across the UK
Following Ingrid, a broad set of flood alerts and warnings were in place — nearly 150 alerts nationwide, with dozens of areas flagged where flooding was possible or expected. This included southwestern England, Wales, and parts of the southeast and northeast as rain bands continued to move across the country. (The Independent)
- Higher terrain (e.g., Dartmoor, Brecon Beacons) was forecast to receive up to 80 mm of rain, increasing surface water and river flood risks. (The Independent)
- Some towns were warned they could become cut off by flooding if conditions worsened. (The Sun)
Official and Public Reactions
Met Office Forecasters
Forecasters emphasised that although these were yellow warnings (lower than amber/red), they still signified disruption risk — especially because rain was falling on already saturated ground, increasing the chance of surface water flooding and transport problems. (Met Office)
Community and Local Voices
Residents and local leaders in affected areas described scenes of disruption, from damaged infrastructure (like piers and sea walls) to train cancellations and travel delays. In Devon, coastal communities felt the storm’s direct effects with infrastructure losses due to waves. (The Guardian)
Wider Context: Multiple Storm Impacts
While Storm Ingrid was the focus of these warnings, the UK had recently experienced other storms (e.g., Storm Chandra) that compounded strain on infrastructure already weakened by rain and winds. These successive weather events have kept flood alerts and transport worries elevated across regions in recent weeks. (The Guardian)
What These Warnings Mean (Explained)
- Yellow weather warning: Be aware — conditions may cause local disruption, such as surface water flooding, travel delays, and coastal hazards. (Met Office)
- Why issued for many areas: Storm Ingrid wasn’t just a single short burst — its slow progression meant rain and wind affected multiple regions at different times. (Met Office)