January 24th 2024.
The UK is once again facing the wrath of mother nature as Storm Jocelyn descends upon the country, following closely behind the devastation left by Storm Isha that claimed the lives of five individuals and injured another. As the tenth storm of the season, Jocelyn is expected to bring heavy winds of up to 80mph and up to two inches of rain, causing widespread chaos and destruction. Experts are warning that the worst is yet to come, urging people to take caution and prepare for the storm's impact.
Already, the storm has caused disruptions in transportation, with train cancellations and the RAC advising motorists to avoid driving in affected areas and parking under trees. In South Wales, a search for a missing person at sea had to be suspended due to the storm's severity. In Scotland, the national operations manager for resilience at Transport Scotland, Martin Thomson, stated that delays and cancellations can be expected across various modes of transportation.
Network Rail Scotland also reported dealing with incidents such as flooding, fallen trees, and debris on tracks. They will begin inspecting routes for damage at first light, using various methods such as foot patrols, road-rail vehicles, and even their helicopter once the winds have calmed down. ScotRail has also announced that all lines will be checked before resuming services, but it may take some time before trains can be running again.
Due to the storm's intensity, flights and trains have been canceled, and warnings of 'danger to life' remain in place, with the possibility of tornadoes in certain areas. Avanti West Coast has advised passengers to avoid traveling north of Preston until at least noon on Wednesday, while bridges in Dartford, Durham, and Cumbria have been closed to high-sided vehicles. The M1 has also been shut down in both directions for such vehicles.
In Scotland, the A76 was closed between Skelmorlie and Largs due to water breaching the sea wall. However, the Forth Bridge remains open to cars and single-decker buses, with restrictions for high-sided vehicles on several bridges. Dublin and Glasgow airports have also experienced flight cancellations, and the Met Office has issued an amber warning for wind in the north and west of Scotland until 8am on Wednesday.
The storm has also caused flooding in parts of York, and the Environment Agency has warned that river flooding is likely to occur in other parts of the north of England. The Met Office has also issued yellow warnings for wind and rain across various regions until Friday, with the possibility of river flooding in Shropshire and the upper River Severn.
As of Tuesday evening, the highest recorded winds reached 76mph in Wales, while Cumbria saw 77mm of rain, which is about half of their average for the entire month of January. However, the winds are expected to gradually ease as the storm moves away from the UK, bringing a day of sunny spells and showers on Wednesday. Thursday will see the rain moving northeast, with brighter conditions on Friday and Saturday, but frequent showers in the north.
Unfortunately, the storms have already claimed lives, with an 84-year-old man dying in a car accident caused by a fallen tree in Falkirk and a man in his 60s losing his life in a crash in Co Londonderry. In Bradford, another man died after falling down a manhole when safety barriers were blown away by the strong winds. Tragically, a father-of-five in Ireland also lost his life when his car veered off a flooded road on Sunday evening. Such incidents serve as a reminder to take all necessary precautions during these extreme weather conditions.
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