As Storm Chandra unleashes its fury upon the UK, many are left grappling with the chaos it brings. With heavy rain and gusty winds wreaking havoc, it's crucial to stay informed about how this severe weather could disrupt your travel plans.
Key Travel Disruptions You Should Know About
Published at 06:56 GMT
As the storm approaches during the busy morning commute, here's what you need to be aware of:
On the Roads:
- The M48 Severn Bridge is currently closed, forcing traffic between England and Wales to reroute via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
- High-sided vehicles are prohibited from crossing the Humber Bridge due to strong winds.
- According to the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, the A351 is closed between Norden Park and Ride and Corfe Castle due to flooding.
- Devon County Council reports multiple blocked roads at significant locations and urges residents to verify their routes prior to traveling.
- Meteorologists are cautioning that flooding and travel disruptions are likely, emphasizing the importance of checking conditions before heading out.
On the Tracks:
- South Western Railway (SWR) has issued warnings about potential cancellations, delays, or changes to service schedules across its entire network.
- Flooding has impacted train lines between Salisbury and Southampton Central, Eastleigh and Fareham, as well as at Sway, leading to closures.
- Great Western Railway (GWR) has reported line closures between Par and Newquay in Cornwall due to flooding, alongside issues between Exeter St David's and Barnstaple and Okehampton.
- Furthermore, services between Castle Cary and Taunton are also canceled due to flooding, similar to the situation on the line between Salisbury and Romsey.
- Transport for Wales has confirmed a tree blockage near Llanbister Road, which may lead to train cancellations in both directions between Swansea and Shrewsbury.
How Common Are Multiple Storms Back-to-Back?
Published at 06:32 GMT
Chris Fawkes, BBC Weather Presenter, notes that the UK has faced three named storms—Goretti, Ingrid, and now Chandra—within just over two weeks.
Storms often arrive in clusters due to intense areas of low pressure generated by a vigorous Atlantic jet stream. As long as this jet stream remains robust, additional storms are likely to form. This pattern resembles a previous storm season where storms Bert, Conall, and Darragh struck within a similar time frame.
What’s the Forecast for Today?
Published at 06:27 GMT
Chris Fawkes also highlights that an amber rain warning is currently in effect for south-west England, with anticipated rainfall of 30-50mm (about 1.2-2 inches) widespread and up to 80mm in hilly areas.
This precipitation falls on already saturated ground, with parts of south-west England having received over one and a half times their average January rainfall prior to this new wave of heavy rain. Both river flooding and groundwater flooding are expected.
In some areas, rain may briefly change to snow over the Pennines and Scottish mountains, particularly in elevated regions exceeding 300-400 meters. This situation poses risks for major routes like the A57 Snake Pass, A66, A68, and M62, making it wise to check travel conditions before venturing onto these high roads.
Gusts of wind reaching 60-70mph are anticipated in the Isles of Scilly and parts of Northern Ireland, with an amber wind warning activated for areas of Antrim and Down, potentially causing localized transportation disturbances.
Storm Chandra: What You Need to Know
Published at 06:22 GMT
Amber weather warnings are currently issued for certain parts of Northern Ireland and south-west England as Storm Chandra continues to deliver severe winds and rainfall across the UK.
Named by the Met Office on Monday, Chandra stands as the third significant storm to impact the UK this month.
The M48 Severn Bridge remains closed, while the Humber Bridge is off-limits for high-sided vehicles due to adverse wind conditions.
The most pressing amber warnings are for rain in south-west England, whereas an amber wind warning persists in eastern Northern Ireland until 21:00.
Additional yellow warnings for rain extend throughout southern England and into Wales, alongside forecasts of rain and snow in northern England and Scotland, as well as separate wind warnings along certain coastal regions.
We will continue tracking the storm's path across the UK and provide you with the latest updates on how it affects your commute this morning—stay tuned!
