#StormDennis brings windy and very wet weather this weekend. Significant risk of flooding especially for western Britain. Gales at times too.
Published Tuesday 11th Feb 2020 19:30 Updated Sat 15th 09:50
Another named storm for this weekend, even as the UK recovers from the wet and windy weather in Storm Ciara. There is a significant risk of flooding due to the heavy and persistent weekend rain from Storm Dennis and strong winds with gales at times.
There has already been heavy rain this week with Scottish snow melting in the milder air flow, that's adding to the water levels too. There are wind and rain warnings for today, Saturday 15th through until Monday 17th morning from the UK Met office. There may well be updates and there are already flood alerts and warnings from the Environment Agencies. Do stay in touch with the forecast and if you are travelling for February half term.
Storm Dennis is expected to bring very heavy rain, flooding and disruption to travel on Saturday.
Yesterday's rain came from a deep low pressure which brought hurricane force winds to Iceland with red warnings for the more inhabited south side of the island. Storm Dennis is a different low which has undergone rapid cyclogenesis in the Atlantic overnight and will be even deeper. Probably one of the deepest lows on record in the North Atlantic. For the UK and Ireland we aren't expecting the winds to be as damaging as Storm Ciara last weekend, although there still will be impacts with trees and structure already battered, the soggy soil and there have been changes and cancellations announced to ferry and train services.
The forecast rain amounts in 24 hours from Storm Dennis, showing how western Britain and the hills inland will bear the brunt of the heavy rain.
.."the ground is already saturated in places. With Storm Dennis bringing further heavy and persistent rain over the weekend, there is a risk of significant impacts from flooding, including damage to property and a danger to life from fast flowing floodwater". Met Office.
And even as the worst of the rain eases for much of the UK (there will be more heavy rain for NW Scotland) the gales continue for NW Wales, NW England , Northern Ireland and Scotland. Sunday night and for the start of Monday.
"Storm Dennis has the potential to bring very strong winds and transport disruption during Sunday and Monday morning" Met Office.
Updates and more details for the weather warnings can be found on the Met Office website. This is the warning picture at 09:45pm on Saturday 15th February, do keep up to date with the forecast especially if you have any travel plans for the end of this week.
More discussion on the Netweather forum as Storm Dennis unfolds.
