New Met Office weather warnings are in place for most of England and Wales as Storm Herminia brought wind gusts up to 83mph in the southeast.
The Environment Agency has issued more than 50 flood warnings, mostly for the country’s south-west, while 172 flood alerts have been issued for much of England - including south-east and further north - as forecasters warn of up to 80mm of rain in some areas.
Warnings for wind and rain have now been extended into Tuesday for some regions, particularly the southwest, where the strongest wind gusts were recorded on Sunday. The Met Office said heavy rain would bring a chance of power cuts, delays to travel services and “a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life”.
British Airways has cancelled 26 flights to and from London Heathrow, The Independent has found, with 3,000 to 4,000 passengers affected. They are all short-haul domestic and European flights.
Storm Herminia is battering the country just two days after the more powerful Storm Eowyn brought record-breaking wind speeds of up to 100mph.
On Sunday it was confirmed that a second person, a 19-year-old, had died after their car was struck by a falling tree in East Ayrshire. Earlier, 20-year-old Kacper Dudek was named as Storm Eowyn’s first victim in Ireland’s County Donegal.
Key Points
- More than 200 flood alerts and warnings in place
- Exclusive: Dozens of flight cancellations at Heathrow as Storm Herminia approaches
- Teenager dies after car hit by falling tree in Scotland amid Storm Eowyn
- Mapped: Weather warnings in place until Tuesday
More than 50 flood warnings issued, mostly in Britain’s south-west
07:06
,
Angus Thompson
The Environment Agency has issued more than 50 flood warnings, mostly for the country’s south-west, while 172 flood alerts have been issued for much of England - including south-east and further north - as forecasters warn of up to 80mm of rain in some areas.
Flood warnings are issued when flooding in an area is expected, and the agency is urging those affected to take immediate action to prepare.
Storm Herminia map: Where 80mph winds and rain will hit UK today as more bad weather follows Storm Eowyn
07:00
,
Alex Croft
A flurry of fresh weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued for Sunday after Storm Eowyn battered the British Isles with hurricane-force winds.
Flights were cancelled, major rail routes closed and ferry services axed on Saturday after winds surpassing 100mph hit parts of Britain throughout Friday. More than a million people were left without power due to the vicious storm.
A rare red weather warning was lifted on Friday from Scotland and Northern Ireland, where Storm Eowyn damaged buildings, uprooted trees and caused power cuts.
But the Met Office has issued weather warnings through until Tuesday, as a new low-pressure system – dubbed Storm Herminia by Spanish forecasters – takes hold over the weekend, moving in from the southwest as Eowyn passes.
Read the full report:
Visualised: Met Office’s Monday forecast
06:01
,
Alex Croft
Here's your #4cast for Monday pic.twitter.com/1bcJ4vwQOS
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 26, 2025
‘We don’t need more rain now’: Forecaster says heavy rainfall hitting already saturated ground
05:52
,
Press Association
Spanish meteorologists have dubbed the low-pressure system Storm Herminia, as the European country will feel the strongest winds.
And while this storm is not expected to be as powerful as Storm Eowyn, flooding is likely in parts of England and Wales and weather warnings are in place until Tuesday.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna Petagna said: “What we’re seeing in this particular system isn’t that unusual (for this time of year), but it’s a combination of several events we’re getting which is adding to problems.
“We’re getting successive spells of wet and windy weather, which is obviously adding to impacts - obviously people are still recovering from Eowyn, and this wind and rain is hampering those efforts.
“Several events now of heavy rain is increasing the risk of flooding as well.
“We don’t need much more rain now to cause further flooding problems with the ground being so saturated.”
Brighter spells will appear occasionally on Monday but the day will largely bring showers that merge into longer spells of rain.
The Met Office expects 20mm to 40mm to fall quite widely and 50mm to 70mm on higher ground.
“Given recent heavy rain, this extra rainfall could lead to some local surface water and river flooding,” the Met Office said.
Ben Lukey, a flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Spells of heavy rain mean surface water and river flooding is possible across parts of England on Sunday, overnight into Monday.
“Although not expected, impacts could include localised flooding from watercourses, drains, channels and flooding from overland flow.”
He warned people not to drive through flood water as 30cm of flowing water is enough to float a car.
Mapped: Weather warnings for the next 24 hours
05:00
,
Alex Croft
Four weather warnings are in place for Monday, two of which will remain in place for the entire day.
- A yellow warning for rain across most of the southern half of England will be lifted at 6am.
- A yellow warning for wind stretching from the south coast to north east England will be lifted at 7am.
- A yellow warning for rain will cover most of Wales until 11:59pm.
- A yellow wind warning will cover southern England and Wales until 6am on Tuesday.
Hundreds left without power as stormy weather hits Cornwall and Devon
04:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Stormy weather has left hundreds of homes across Cornwall and Devon without electricity as strong winds and heavy rain batter the region. The power outages come as the Met Office issues yellow weather warnings for both wind and rain.
Many areas are experiencing significant disruptions, with power cuts reported across towns and villages. Restoration efforts are underway, but some households may remain without electricity for several hours or even days.
Storm Herminia ‘will be a notch down’ from Eowyn, says Met Office forecaster
04:00
,
Alex Croft
Storm Herminia, as it is being dubbed by Spanish meteorologists, is not expected to be as strong as Eowyn was over the weekend.
Met Office forecaster Jonathan Vautrey said: “This is certainly going to be a notch down compared to Eowyn, whilst there is the potential for 60 to 70mph gusts of wind across the very far south west generally, we’re not going to be seeing the same strengths of winds as we have seen over the last couple of days.”
However “there are a lot of sensitivities around” following Eowyn, he said.
What comes after Storm Eowyn? Future storm names for 2025 revealed
03:02
,
Alex Croft
The Met Office has already confirmed the storm names to be used across 2024 and 2025 - as the UK hit by Storm Bert.
The new storms list – first launched in 2015 – for each year generally runs from early September until late August the following year, coinciding with the beginning of autumn.
James, Lewis and Mavis are all included in the new list in honour of figures from the Met Office’s 170-year history.
What comes after Eowyn? Read here:
In pictures: Scale of Storm Eowyn’s damage laid bare
02:00
,
Alex Croft
Workers cut through fallen trees following ‘risk to life’ winds from Storm Eowyn
01:00
,
Alex Croft
Storm Herminia brings thunderstorms, 80mph winds and flood alerts as Eowyn clear-up continues
00:01
,
Alex Croft
Britons are set to see 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.
Cornwall was buffeted by thunderstorms and winds of up to 82mph on Sunday 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 set to last until Tuesday.
Read the full report:
More than 200 flood alerts and warnings in place
Sunday 26 January 2025 23:22
,
Alex Croft
Authorities have issued 207 flood warnings and alerts across the UK.
The Environment Agency has issued 167 flood alerts and 27 flood warnings in England. Natural Resources Wales has issued 11 flood alerts in Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued two flood warnings for Scotland.
A flood alert is the least severe of the three-tier system, while a flood warning is the second most severe.
In pictures: Workers clear fallen trees after Storm Eowyn
Sunday 26 January 2025 22:47
,
Alex Croft
Ten more cancellations at Heathrow on Monday
Sunday 26 January 2025 22:21
,
Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent
Other airlines have begun cancelling flights on Monday at London Heathrow. Five arrivals and five departures are grounded:
- Aer Lingus: Dublin
- Eurowings: Stuttgart
- Iberia: Madrid
- KLM: Amsterdam
- Lufthansa: Frankfurt
Under air passengers’ rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline, and to be provided with meals and hotels until they get there.
All the routes are served by multiple daily departures, and the airlines will aim to rebook passengers on adjacent flights.
ICYMI: Storm Eowyn ‘unprecedented on every level’, says Northern Ireland’s first minister
Sunday 26 January 2025 21:54
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Alex Croft
Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill has described Storm Eowyn and its impact as “unprecedented on every level”, as she and and her deputy Emma Little-Pengelly visited NIE Networks in Craigavon to thank workers.
Ms O’Neill said: “People will continue to work tirelessly to ensure people are reconnected as quickly as possible.
“It is very difficult given the sheer volume of damage that has been caused but we’re assured that all the work that can be done is being done and we want to thank the staff for all of their efforts.”
Urgent health warning to hot water bottle users in cold weather
Sunday 26 January 2025 21:35
,
Alex Croft
A woman has urged others to “never use” hot water bottles after her seven-year-old bottle exploded leaving her with third-degree burns. Karen O’Brien, a retail worker from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, suffered severe burns when her hot water bottle burst on her lap in March 2024.
The injury caused her skin to blister and peel away leaving “holes in the skin” that worsened by the hour. At Leicester Royal Infirmary, doctors removed layers of damaged skin to prevent infection. The burn left her with a large scar on her thigh and permanent skin discolouration.
Ms O’Brien is now warning others to avoid hot water bottles, and if they are using them to check their age. Hot water bottles perish over time so experts advise people to change bottles every two to three years.
Read the full report:
Jeremy Clarkson claims BBC’s weather coverage is part of ‘anti-Tory’ narrative
Sunday 26 January 2025 21:13
,
Alex Croft
Jeremy Clarkson has claimed that warnings about Storm Eowyn, which has unleashed 100 mph winds on the UK and Ireland and left one man dead, is part of an “anti-Tory” narrative.
Weather warnings for snow, wind and rain are issued up to Tuesday (28 January) as the inclement weather continues to batter the UK and Ireland.
Flights have been cancelled, major rail routes closed and ferry services were axed again on Saturday after winds hit parts of Britain throughout Friday. Millions were left without power due to the vicious storm.
Met Office has now issued weather warnings through until Tuesday, with a new low-pressure system set to take hold over the weekend, moving in from the southwest as Storm Eowyn passes.
Read the full report:
No respite from rain as Storm Herminia follows Eowyn
Sunday 26 January 2025 20:52
,
Alex Croft
While Sunday saw Storm Eowyn start to die down, a new storm is set to follow immediately behind.
Named Storm Herminia by Spanish meteorologists, it is forecast to hit the south west of England and Wales first and then move into Northern Ireland and northern England on Sunday afternoon, reaching parts of Scotland by the evening, according to PA.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: “This is certainly going to be a notch down compared to Eowyn, whilst there is the potential for 60 to 70mph gusts of wind across the very far south west generally, we’re not going to be seeing the same strengths of winds as we have seen over the last couple of days.”
Storm Herminia map: Where 80mph winds and rain will hit UK today as more bad weather follows Storm Eowyn
Sunday 26 January 2025 20:30
,
Alex Croft
Aflurry of fresh weather warnings for wind and rain were issued for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Storm Eowyn battered the British Isles with hurricane-force winds.
Flights were cancelled, major rail routes closed and ferry services axed on Saturday after winds surpassing 100mph hit parts of Britain throughout Friday. More than a million people were left without power due to the vicious storm.
A rare red weather warning was lifted on Friday from Scotland and Northern Ireland, where Storm Eowyn damaged buildings, uprooted trees and caused power cuts.
But the Met Office has issued weather warnings through until Tuesday, as a new low-pressure system – dubbed Storm Herminia by Spanish forecasters – takes hold over the weekend, moving in from the southwest as Eowyn passes.
Read the full report:
‘Very strong winds’ possible on Sunday night - Met Office
Sunday 26 January 2025 20:07
,
Alex Croft
The Met Office has said that “very strong winds” are possible in southern and eastern parts of England tonight.
“As today’s band of wet and windy weather feeds north across the northern half of the UK, another area of rain bearing cloud to the southwest of the UK is being closely monitored,” the forecaster posted alongside a graphic showing tonight’s forecast.
As today's band of wet and windy weather feeds north across the northern half of the UK, another area of rain bearing cloud to the southwest of the UK is being closely monitored
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 26, 2025
This could bring some very strong winds into southern and eastern parts of England tonight pic.twitter.com/UJ0XBHUY23
Storm Herminia map: Where 80mph winds and rain will hit UK today as more bad weather follows Storm Eowyn
Sunday 26 January 2025 19:44
,
Alex Croft
A flurry of fresh weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued for Sunday after Storm Eowyn battered the British Isles with hurricane-force winds.
Flights were cancelled, major rail routes closed and ferry services axed on Saturday after winds surpassing 100mph hit parts of Britain throughout Friday. More than a million people were left without power due to the vicious storm.
A rare red weather warning was lifted on Friday from Scotland and Northern Ireland, where Storm Eowyn damaged buildings, uprooted trees and caused power cuts.
But the Met Office has issued weather warnings through until Tuesday, as a new low-pressure system – dubbed Storm Herminia by Spanish forecasters – takes hold over the weekend, moving in from the southwest as Eowyn passes.
Read the full report:
Authorities issue 179 flood warnings and alerts across UK
Sunday 26 January 2025 19:20
,
Alex Croft
Authorities have issued 179 flood warnings and alerts across the UK.
The Environment Agency has issued 151 flood alerts and 23 flood warnings in England. Natural Resources Wales has issued three alerts in Wales and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued two flood warnings for Scotland.
A flood alert is the least severe of the three-tier system, while a flood warning is the second most severe.
What is the Environment Agency’s five-day flooding forecast
Sunday 26 January 2025 18:55
,
Alex Croft
In its forecast for the next five days, the Environment Agency says: “Local flooding is possible but not expected from surface water today and tomorrow for parts of England, and from rivers in the East Midlands tomorrow.
“Properties may flood and there may be travel disruption. Local flooding is possible from rivers across parts of the South of England on Tuesday with coastal flooding possible in parts of Dorset tomorrow and Tuesday.
“Groundwater flooding is possible but not expected in parts of the South of England from Tuesday.
“Further local flooding from rivers and surface water is possible on Wednesday into Thursday. Land, roads and some properties may flood and there may be travel disruption.”
Storm Eowyn was 'the biggest storm we’ve ever experienced’
Sunday 26 January 2025 18:33
,
Alex Croft
Residents affected by the record-breaking winds of Storm Eowyn in Ireland are beginning to inspect the damage done to their areas and homes.
Johanna Krijnsen, 34, from Co Clare, Ireland, said some parts of her roof blew off during Storm Eowyn.
“This really was the biggest storm we’ve ever experienced here in Ireland,” said the mother-of-four, originally from Utrecht in the Netherlands. Around 10 trees on their land have been ripped up and they are still without power, she said.
“We’re on the West Coast, about 20 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. I think we got the full smack of it.”
Ms Krijnsen and her husband have an eight-year-old daughter with Down’s Syndrome and a five-year-old son who has non-verbal autism.
“Our son is so used to his routines and they’re just not there at the moment,” said Ms Krijnsen. “So that makes it hardest for him emotionally.”
Exclusive: Dozens of flight cancellations at Heathrow as Storm Herminia approaches
Sunday 26 January 2025 18:09
,
Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent
Air-traffic controllers have asked for a reduction in the number of flights to and from London Heathrow on Monday, with strong winds likely to reduce the “flow rate” of aircraft movements.
The Independent has found that British Airways has so far cancelled 26 flights to and from London Heathrow. They are all short-haul domestic and European flights, to and from the following destinations:
Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast City, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Paris CDG Stockholm and Zurich.An estimated 3,000-4,000 passengers are affected.
So far other airlines have not cancelled any flights; British Airways has more than half the slots at Heathrow and is always impacted most heavily by air-traffic control restrictions.
Deadly Storm Eowyn’s fury as 100mph winds batters UK and Ireland
Sunday 26 January 2025 17:58
,
Alex Croft
Horse racing at risk of cancellation over coming days
Sunday 26 January 2025 17:40
,
Alex Croft
Monday’s jumps cards at Plumpton and Hereford are at risk of being cancelled and will have to face precuationary inspections on raceday morning.
Further rain and strong winds are forecast overnight at Hereford, meaning a morning check will take place at 7:30am.
It is a similar story at Plumpton, which will be inspected at 8:30am. The area is under a yellow weather warning from the Met Office for strong winds and rain.
Wednesday’s meeting at Leicester is under threat with a 7.45am check called for Monday.
Heavy rain is forecast on Sunday night, with the hurdles track heavy and the chase course soft, heavy in places.
‘Very unsettled’ start to the coming week - Met Office graphic
Sunday 26 January 2025 17:19
,
Alex Croft
The first half of the coming week looks set to remain very unsettled
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 26, 2025
Hints though of something less wet and less blustery developing later pic.twitter.com/mDCbNFvRKT
ICYMI: Co-op building collapses in Falkirk as Storm Eowyn batters Scotland
Sunday 26 January 2025 17:00
,
Alex Croft
An exterior wall of a Co-op store in Falkirk collapsed due to high winds as Storm Eowyn battered Scotland on Friday, 24 January.
“If you needed an indication as to the severity of Storm Eowyn - this is the Co-op in Denny this afternoon. Thank goodness it was closed,” local radio station Central FM shared in a Facebook post.
There were no injuries according to Police Scotland who attended the scene after the damage, which left the inside of the building exposed, was reported.
A 20-year-old man in Ireland became the first confirmed Storm Eowyn-related death after a tree fell on his car at 5:30am in Donegal.
Storm Herminia brings thunderstorms, 80mph winds and flood alerts as Eowyn clear-up continues
Sunday 26 January 2025 16:41
,
Alex Croft
Britons are set to see 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.
Cornwall was buffeted by thunderstorms and winds of up to 82mph on Sunday 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 set to last until Tuesday, including five alerts for wind and rain in force across the southern half of the UK on Sunday.
My colleague Andy Gregory reports:
Watch: Workers cut through fallen trees after Storm Eowyn
Sunday 26 January 2025 16:20
,
Andy Gregory
Power cuts and rail line closure in Cornwall as Storm Herminia hits
Sunday 26 January 2025 15:58
,
Andy Gregory
As Herminia made landfall, the BBC cited the National Grid as saying that more than 4,500 properties in Devon and Cornwall had suffered power cuts.
Flooding also blocked the rail line between Par and Newquay, National Rail said.
Met Office says weather to remain wet and windy until Wednesday
Sunday 26 January 2025 15:33
,
Andy Gregory
In its outlook for Tuesday to Thursday, the Met Office website states:
Remaining wet and windy on Tuesday, and also in the south on Wednesday. Becoming more settled for all by Thursday. Temperatures near the seasonal average, but chilly at night.
Urgent health warning to hot water bottle users in cold weather
Sunday 26 January 2025 15:20
,
Andy Gregory
A woman has urged others to “never use” hot water bottles after her seven-year-old bottle exploded leaving her with third-degree burns.
Two flood alerts issued in Wales
Sunday 26 January 2025 14:52
,
Andy Gregory
Two flood alerts have been issued along the northwestern coast of Wales.
Natural Resources Wales warns that flooding is possible along the coastline at West Anglesey, the Lleyn Peninsula, and Cardigan Bay.
“Flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected. Be careful on beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths, roads, low lying land, close to the estuary,” the agency warns.
Temperatures to reach double-digits in southern England as storm hits
Sunday 26 January 2025 14:32
,
Andy Gregory
The Met Office has produced a graphic showing how Storm Herminia will sweep across the UK on Sunday.
Wet and windy weather will sweep northeast this afternoon ️ ️
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 26, 2025
Some snow on hills in the north ❄️
Turning brighter, more showery in the southwest ️ pic.twitter.com/odXX2SYwgp
Environment Agency urges people to stay away from exposed coastal areas
Sunday 26 January 2025 14:04
,
Andy Gregory
Ben Lukey, a flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Spells of heavy rain mean surface water and river flooding is possible across parts of England on Sunday, overnight into Monday.
“Although not expected, impacts could include localised flooding from watercourses, drains, channels and flooding from overland flow.
“The risk of coastal flooding remains very low. However, we urge people to stay away from exposed areas on beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads where large waves and sea spray could be dangerous.”
He warned people not to drive through flood water as 30cm of flowing water is enough to float a car.
Technicians from France to help restore power and water to those in Ireland hit by Storm Eowyn
Sunday 26 January 2025 13:44
,
Andy Gregory
Technicians from England and France are set to help restore power to homes and businesses across Ireland following Storm Eowyn.
More than 300,000 remain without power across Ireland following record-setting wind speeds, with ESB Networks warning that 100,000 may still be without power by next Friday. Nearly 110,000 were also without water on Sunday afternoon.
Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary said technicians from England are helping ESB workers, and further support is coming from France, with the main focus this week around restoring power and water.
He described the damage as “extensive”, but said they are “throwing everything at it”.
Jeremy Clarkson claims BBC’s weather coverage is part of ‘anti-Tory’ narrative
Sunday 26 January 2025 13:22
,
Andy Gregory
Jeremy Clarkson has claimed that warnings about Storm Eowyn, which has unleashed 100 mph winds on the UK and Ireland and left one man dead, is part of an “anti-Tory” narrative.
Clarkson, in his column for The Sun, has scoffed at the warnings issued by experts, instead calling the conditions a “bit breezy”.
“The weathermen were all standing on the bottom corner of Ireland, making out like they were in