Storm Barney Spreads Rain, Damaging Winds Across UK

Barney, the second storm to be named by the Met Office this season, will continue to bring rain and damaging winds to the United Kingdom on Tuesday.

“Barney will be a fast-moving storm, bringing locally strong winds to southern Ireland and the southern U.K. until early Wednesday morning,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister said.

Winds will gust to 75 mph (120 km/h) in the areas hit hardest, including Cardiff, Plymouth and Bristol on Tuesday night.

Winds to this speed can down tree limbs, cause power outages and result in minor to moderate coastal flooding, especially at high tide.

In the Greater London area, winds will be weaker but could still gust in excess of 50 mph (80 km/h) at times.

Flight delays are possible at the height of the storm and could affect those flying out of London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports.

In addition to wind, Barney will also cause heavy rain in Northern Ireland into Wales and Northwest England.

The rainy spell will worsen flooding from ex-Hurricane Kate over the weekend.

Between Saturday and Monday morning, Gwynedd and Powys counties in Wales received the heaviest rain, totaling over 106.0 mm (4.1 inches) and over 82 mm (3.2 inches), respectively, according to the Met Office.

High river levels in at Machynlleth resulted in the cancellation of train services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury over the weekend, according to the BBC. Other routes were delayed due to speed restrictions.

Heavy rain also fell widely across the North West of England, with the heaviest being over the higher ground of Cumbria, according to the Met Office.

The Environment Agency recorded totals of 178 mm (7 inches) in only 12 hours as of 5 a.m. Monday morning in Cumbria. Official Met Office sites also recorded 81 mm (3.1 inches) in Keswick and 72 mm (2.8 inches) in Blencathra.

Rivers overflowed their banks in the county, flooding roads and farmland, according to the BBC.

“Additional rain by Barney will make flooding problems worse in the regions that were worst-hit over the weekend,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

Rainfall from Barney will generally total around 25 mm (1 inch), but as much as 50 mm (2 inches) can fall in some areas.

The Environment Agency has issued a yellow low-risk flood warning for Wales and the North East and North West of England on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Barney will depart the U.K. overnight Tuesday, but unsettled weather will continue in the days that follow.

“Right on the heels of Barney, the next storm will bring another round of gusty winds and rainfall to similar areas on Wednesday,” Leister said.

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