In a harrowing incident that unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday morning, a driver had a miraculous escape after a massive tree came crashing down, crushing their car on Chichester Road in West London. The dramatic incident occurred just hours before the Met Office issued an amber weather warning for Storm Babet, which is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to various parts of the UK.
Fire crews swiftly responded to the scene to extricate the trapped driver from the mangled wreckage. The fortunate motorist, who was in the vehicle at the time of the incident, managed to escape with minor injuries, much to the relief of witnesses who had gathered at the scene.
The incident took place against the backdrop of an impending weather event that has raised concerns across the country. Storm Babet, as predicted by the Met Office, is poised to unleash downpours and strong winds starting on Wednesday.
The Met Office has taken the unprecedented step of upgrading its weather warnings, particularly for eastern Scotland, where conditions have been escalated from a yellow warning to a more severe amber rating. This heightened alert signifies that the impact of the impending weather is expected to be more severe than initially anticipated.
The amber warning spans from 6 am on Thursday to 6 pm on Friday and encompasses the potential for up to 20cm of rain in some areas during the Wednesday to Saturday timeframe. The Met Office has warned of the possibility of “extensive flooding to homes and businesses,” alongside the potential for power outages, road closures, and train cancellations.
In their statement, the Met Office expressed concerns that communities in flooded areas could be isolated for an extended period, potentially lasting several days, should conditions worsen.
In addition to the rain, wind gusts with speeds reaching up to 80mph are predicted, adding to the hazardous conditions. A yellow warning, expanded to cover most of Scotland and significant parts of northern, central, and eastern England, has also been issued for “very wet weather,” which includes the risk of flooding and a “slight chance” of power cuts from Thursday to Saturday.
Forecasters have indicated that as much as 10cm of rain could fall in the affected areas, particularly in elevated regions. Other parts of the UK, including London, much of Wales, and the south coast, are also expected to experience heavy downpours on Friday. A yellow weather warning is in place for much of Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday, adding to the widespread weather concerns facing the country in the coming days.
