Storm Darragh red warning: ‘severe consequences’ expected

A red weather warning has been issued for the west of the United Kingdom as Storm Darragh approaches. 

Professor Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, comments: 

“Red warnings are very rare and indicate there is a very high chance that a weather event is going to happen with very severe consequences. 

“Even people in areas where yellow and amber warnings have been issued should be aware that they could also be facing risks to their safety and their property. 

“Don't be mistaken in thinking that a yellow warning doesn't matter. This is going to be a dangerous storm which could lead to disruptive and dangerous impacts, including flooding, damage to buildings, and dangerous conditions on the roads.”

Commenting as Storm Darragh hit the UK, Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, meteorologist and head of the School of Mathematical Physical and Computational Sciences at the University of Reading, said:

"Storm Darragh was well forecast and combined with the clearly communicated warnings seems to have provided the public with the information they needed to to make good decisions to avoid harm.

"It has been good to see public authorities like the Welsh FA and Premier League taking sensible action to prevent the need for people to travel and put themselves in danger.

"A key part of climate adaptation for the UK and countries around the world is having access to high-quality weather forecasts of extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and more severe due to the warming climate.

"This storm is a reminder that the UK is very fortunate to have one of the most effective public weather services in the world. This should spur us on to help deliver on the UN's commitment to develop early warnings for all, and provide similar life-saving warnings for people wherever they live in the world, whether in Lilongwe or Llandudno."

Dr Helen Hooker, flood and climate scientist at the University of Reading, said:

"Recovery from the devastating flooding caused by Storm Bert had barely begun when Storm Darragh hit this weekend. 

"Storm clusters are common, but climate change is making rainfall more intense. When storms come one after another, the heavier rainfall lands on already wet ground, worsening flooding.

"After a very wet autumn for England, and four named storms by the start of December that have already led to some floods, the UK is experiencing the kind of volatility of extreme weather that we expect to see more of as the world gets warmer."

Dr Akshay Deoras, climate scientist at the University of Reading, said: 

“Storm Darragh has become the fourth named storm of the ongoing European windstorm season. Its dangerous winds have already impacted thousands of people across the UK. Further disruptions are expected across the UK during the weekend, so it is very important to follow weather warnings in order to stay safe from the dangerous wind of the storm. In western parts of the UK, where the red warning was issued, it is not safe to travel or remain outdoor on Saturday.”