Janice R. Andrews
Due to Storm Isha’s possibly fatal gusts, which are disrupting traffic and raising safety concerns, a tornado warning has been issued for a portion of Britain.
A “tornado watch” zone was issued by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro) for Northern Ireland, portions of Scotland, and northern England, signifying a potential for a “strong tornado” in those areas.
The Met Office has issued amber wind alerts for the entire nation, with gusts as high as 90 mph predicted in some areas of Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland. Rail, maritime, and aviation services are being impacted by travel disruptions, such as closures, cancellations, and delays. Power outages, flying debris, and hazardous coastal conditions, including large waves, have all been alerted to by the Met Office.
“There is a chance that we could see the odd isolated tornado largely tied in with the squally cold front mainly in western parts of the UK on Sunday evening,” said Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna.
The organisation that represents Britain’s energy networks has issued alerts regarding possible threats to residences and essential infrastructure, putting the energy network in danger. Meteorologist Tom Morgan of the Met Office stressed the possibility of life-threatening conditions and strong gusts that could cause blackouts in certain places.
With winds of 79 mph already recorded in Capel Curig, Wales, the entire United Kingdom is under a blanket wind warning. There are two separate 12-hour amber wind warnings in place for different areas, and ScotRail has stopped rail operation, meaning there won’t be any Monday morning rush-hour service.
Flight cancellations are being caused by air traffic control constraints, while National Highways has issued severe weather advisories, encouraging drivers to prepare for possible disruptions. Very severe gusts are predicted in the extreme south-east of England as the storm moves away on Monday morning.
The Met Office recommended maintaining up to speed with alerts and local authority guidelines, and the Energy Networks Association encouraged individuals to follow up with those who might need more assistance. Monday is projected to see a gradual abatement of the high winds, but Tuesday morning is expected to bring more rain and wind, which is expected to extend eastward throughout the UK.
Conditions in the south are predicted to improve later in the week, with seasonally moderate temperatures and mostly windy and rainy weather restricted to the northwest of the United Kingdom. As the situation changes, keep checking back for updates.
