Herminia brings gale-force winds and more flood alerts

Britain is set to suffer at least three more days of heavy downpours and powerful winds, as a new weather front named Storm Herminia hit the UK almost immediately after Storm Eowyn caused major damage and disruption.

- ANDY GREGORY

Cornwall was buffeted by thunderstorms and winds of up to 82mph yesterday morning as Herminia made landfall from the South West, having been named by Spanish meteorologists.

The Met Office has now issued a host of weather warnings for wind and rain set to last until tomorrow, as the UK experiences an unsettled start to the week.

With up to 80mm of rain now anticipated in some areas, 167 flood alerts and 27 flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency as of late yesterday, in locations that could become flooded in England. Natural Resources Wales has issued 11 flood alerts, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued two flood warnings.

The challenging conditions will complicate clear-up efforts after Storm Eowyn – described by the Met Office as proably the most powerful weather system to hit the UK in at least 10 years – uprooted trees, damaged buildings and rail infrastructure, and left more than a million people without power.