Dense fog is expected to disrupt travel in parts of England and Wales on Sunday before the main risk shifts north during the coming week, forecasters say. Visibility could fall below 100 metres in places. The settled pattern is also renewing concern about drought, with 82% of England still officially affected.
The India Meteorological Department said very severe Cyclone Arnab began making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near south of Yanam at about 1.20am on Wednesday. Winds were measured at 125-135 kmph with gusts up to 150 kmph, while rain, flooding, fallen trees and major transport disruption were reported.
Scotland is facing another period of strong winds and heavy rain while thousands of homes remain without power after Storm Boelo. The Met Office expects gusts of up to 65mph in south-west coastal areas, while transport disruption, school closures and flood risks continue. One man died after being struck by a falling tree.
India’s eastern states are intensifying evacuations, transport restrictions and rescue preparations as Cyclone Arnab moves across the Bay of Bengal toward Andhra Pradesh and Yanam. The weather department forecasts a very severe cyclone, winds of up to 140 kmph and exceptionally heavy rain, while authorities in several states remain on alert.
Storm Boelo caused two deaths, widespread power cuts and major travel disruption across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with exposed areas recording winds above 80mph. Electricity was restored to most affected properties in Northern Ireland, but outages remained substantial in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland as forecasters warned of more strong winds.
Amber warnings are in force across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England as Storm Boelo brings potentially dangerous winds, heavy rain and gusts approaching 80mph. The storm follows Storm Austen, which left thousands without electricity in south-west England, and has already prompted transport cancellations, road closures and the abandonment of public events.
Rivers continued rising across the Four Corners on Friday after intense rainfall triggered evacuations, emergency declarations and rescues, including people pulled from rooftops and homes filled with several feet of water. Authorities reported impassable roads and extensive infrastructure damage, while forecasters warned that additional rain could worsen conditions through the weekend.
The UK government will equip RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M transport aircraft to support civilian firefighters during wildfires, while allocating up to £45m for specialist equipment and resilience measures. The plan follows a record-breaking summer and warnings from MPs that the country’s existing arrangements for aerial support, water supplies and national coordination are inadequate.
A first global IUCN assessment classifies 96% of the world’s 127 tropical and subtropical shallow-water coral reef systems as critically endangered under a climate scenario projecting 2.7°C of warming by 2100. The organisation says most reefs have not yet been lost, leaving a limited opportunity for emissions cuts, protection and restoration.