Storm Debi LIVE: Met Office issues more ‘danger to life’ weather warnings as the UK braces for 80mph winds and heavy rain

Storm Debi’s trail of destruction has brought coastal flooding and left around 100,000 homes and businesses without power across Ireland.

Heavy winds and fallen trees have been reported across Ireland as local authorities moved to respond to the damage following the lifting of red and orange weather alerts.

There has been coastal flooding in Galway City and nearby Oranmore.

Downed trees and flooding were reported in Co Cavan while Louth County Council also recorded fallen power lines.

Fire crews in Meath responded to a number of incidents involving vehicles and fallen trees but reported no injuries.

The ESB said it would have to work late through the night to return power to customers.

Forecasters had warned of a potential ‘danger to life’ as schools and services in parts of Ireland delayed opening due to weather warnings across the island.

A yellow warning for every county in Ireland came into effect at midnight and is due to remain until 3pm on Monday.

The majority of the country was also placed under a series of now-expired red and orange wind warnings due to ‘severe and damaging gusts’.

The weather caused disruption to early morning flights at Dublin Airport, while commuters in the city saw cancellations on a number of services.

Dublin Bus and Luas tram services have resumed in the city after being axed before 10am due to the storm.

An Irish postwoman was taken to hospital after being hit by flying debris in County Limerick during Storm Debi, according to the postal service.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for An Post said: ‘Thankfully she was not seriously injured.’

An Post has adjusted schedules due to the storm and deliveries in the north, midlands, south and east of the country will be delayed due to road conditions and power outages.

Storm Debi marks the earliest point in a storm season the letter D has been reached in the alphabet.

Storm seasons run from the start of September to the end of the following August.

The Met Office began naming storms in 2015.

Before 2023, the earliest month in which the letter D had been reached was December, which happened in 2015 (Desmond), 2017 (Dylan) and 2018 (Deirdre).

The named storms in this year’s season so far are Agnes (September 2023), Babet (October), Ciaran (November) and now Debi.

Flooded roads, fallen trees and power cuts brought Storm Debi chaos this morning.

Nearly 250 homes were blacked out in Bristol and almost 230 in Cardiff, with another 140 losing their electricity in Ross-on-Wye as the gales arrived.

Police in Wiltshire warned that roads passing through wooded areas are like

‘The heavy rain is mixing with the autumn leaves and forming a slush which makes it very difficult for tyres to get a grip.

‘If you drive too fast you could easily slide out of control and crash,’ they said.

Jonathan Vautrey, meteorologist for the Met Office, urged people to ‘take care before you travel’ as morning rush hour is expected to be affected.

He said: ‘There will be some heavy rainfall, the potential for flying debris, the potential for disruption to travel and infrastructure in places.’

Weather warnings have been issued for large parts of the UK, as the storm is forecast to sweep across Ireland before reaching northern England and parts of Wales on Monday, with the potential for 80mph gusts in some areas.

A yellow warning for wind, the lowest level of alert, will be in place from 4am until 6pm for areas including Bangor and St Davids in Wales and Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool in England.

Aberdeenshire in Scotland will have a yellow warning for rain from 10am until 9pm.

Parts of north-east Scotland likely to see heavy rain were also battered by Storm Babet last month, including Brechin in Angus, where hundreds of homes had to be evacuated after the river South Esk breached its banks.

Chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: ‘Storm Debi has developed rapidly overnight and will bring impacts across parts of the UK today.

‘Because of the particular risk of impacts to parts of County Armagh and County Down this morning and parts of northwest England through much of the day we have issued two amber wind warnings.’

The Met Office also warned that roads and bridges are likely to close, meaning longer journey times and public transport and other cancellations are possible, with road, rail, air and ferry services to be affected.

People are also warned that cuts to power, mobile phone reception, and more may occur as the storm batters power and telecommunication lines.

Those in coastal areas are warned to keep away from the waterfront, with large waves and beach material likely to be thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts, and nearby properties.

An amber weather warning has been issued for parts of north-west England as Storm Debi hits the UK, bringing heavy rain and severe gale-force winds.

The alert is active from 10am until 4pm on Monday and covers coastal areas north of Liverpool up to Whitehaven.

The Met Office has warned Brits living in those areas should be wary of solid and disruptive winds with the possibility of flying debris.

Damage to buildings and structures is likely, and heavy items such as tiles blown from roofs may present a potential danger to life.