Storm Lilian Brings Severe Weather to the UK: Travel Disruptions Expected
Drivers across the UK are being urged to exercise caution as Storm Lilian unleashes strong winds and heavy rain, creating treacherous conditions on the roads this Friday morning. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for winds exceeding 75mph across northern England, southern Scotland, and Wales, in place until 11:00 BST. Forecasters are warning of significant travel disruptions, particularly for those driving along major routes such as the M6 motorway, A66, and A1.
Overnight, heavy rain swept across the country, with North Wales recording around 30mm of rainfall. As a result, two Met Office yellow warnings for rain were active in parts of south-west and eastern Scotland until 09:00 BST, raising concerns about potential localised flooding.
Storm Lilian, the twelfth named storm of the season, marks a significant milestone as it’s the furthest through the Met Office’s storm naming list since its introduction in 2015. Gusts have reached up to 72mph at Capel Curig in Wales, with winds widely recorded at 50-60mph. While these wind speeds might not seem extraordinary during the autumn or winter months, they are unusual for August, according to BBC Weather. The fact that trees are still in full leaf makes branches more susceptible to falling, posing additional hazards on roads and rail networks.
The Met Office has also warned of the likelihood of flooding, power cuts, and dangerous conditions near coastal areas. Despite these severe weather conditions, the storm is expected to move through quickly, with the strongest winds initially hitting parts of north Wales before spreading towards the Liverpool and Blackpool areas. The storm is then forecasted to travel over the Pennines and into eastern and north-east England.
Festival-goers at Leeds Festival have been advised to secure their tents in anticipation of the strong winds. Meanwhile, Network Rail is closely monitoring the situation and has teams on standby to implement safety measures as needed to maintain the safe operation of trains. Already, travel disruptions have been reported due to trees blocking railway lines in Wales, the South-West, and the West Midlands.
In Gloucestershire, the M48 Severn Bridge has been closed in both directions due to strong winds, with drivers advised to use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge as an alternative route. Merseyside Police have also issued a warning to motorists, advising them to slow down, avoid exposed stretches of motorway, and, if possible, delay their travel plans.
Looking ahead, rain is expected to taper off throughout the morning, leaving behind a largely dry Friday with some sunshine. However, strong winds will continue to move eastwards across north Wales and northern England, making for a blustery afternoon across much of the UK. The good news is that winds are predicted to calm down over the bank holiday weekend, although wet weather may persist.
For the latest updates on Storm Lilian and other weather warnings, visit the Met Office website.
