England is being battered by severe weather as Storm Babet causes flooding, closed schools, and damage. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for heavy and persistent rain until 06:00 on Saturday, with up to 60mm of rain expected and the potential for up to 120mm on higher ground. Fast-flowing floodwater poses a threat to life and has caused blockages on various motorways, railway lines, and routes across northern England, the Midlands, and North Wales.
In Shropshire and Yorkshire, parts of major roads have been closed due to flooding, and Rotherham Central Station has shut because of water damage. Fire and rescue services have been inundated with more than 200 calls in two hours, many relating to flooded cellars and cars stuck in water. Homes have been flooded in areas like Suffolk, Dorset, and Wiltshire, while vital services like schools have been closed in the West Midlands, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire due to nearby road flooding.
Although Storm Babet has caused severe damage across the country, the situation managed to avoid the worst in parts of the east of England, including Hemsby in Norfolk where coastal erosion hit residents hard. Train services running between Bristol and London have been cancelled due to flooding in Swindon, and other transport links have been hit throughout the country. The storm damage included a beach bar being swept into the sea in Torquay earlier this week.
An amber warning of rain accompanies a yellow warning of wind, which covers the East Midlands, East, north-east England, and Yorkshire and the Humber. The yellow warning began at midday on Friday and ends at 12:00 on Saturday. Anyone in a region affected by the storm is encouraged to share their experiences with the BBC by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if willing to speak to a BBC journalist
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