Storm Agnes latest: Met Office issues new weather warning for torrential rain

As the evening rush hour beckons, Storm Agnes is causing heavy traffic across the UK, data from navigation app Waze shows.

The UK roads will be taking the brunt of the weather, strong winds, obstructions and heightened congestion, experts from the app advised.

“Several regions across Ireland have been hit with strong winds driven by Storm Agnes, with further stormy weather and high-speed winds expected”, a spokesperson for Waze said.

“This is causing significant congestion for drivers in Cork, with the Waze Live Map showing bumper to bumper traffic on the R610 Parnell Pl and speeds as low as 4mph. Heavy traffic can also be seen on Anglesea Street, with reported speeds of 6mph.”

“With strong winds expected over the next two days, be sure to check the Waze Live Map or Waze app for the latest real-time updates on road closures, weather hazards, accidents, and more, ensuring those making essential journeys are informed before the set off.”

Surfers on the Welsh south coast were spotted making the most of the high waves ahead of Storm Agnes.

The beach-goers were seen on Tuesday afternoon after the Met Office warned the extreme weather will bring ‘large waves’ to UK coasts.

A pair of swimmers have been caught wading into the sea whilst Storm Agnes batters the Republic of Ireland’s coast.

Storm Agnes, the first named storm of the season, is forecast to bring strong and disruptive winds until Thursday morning.

Fallen trees are being reported across the island, with the roof being blown off a building in Youghal, Co Cork.

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In Northern Ireland the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has urged caution from road users in the heavy wind and rain, and warned that strike action may affect the department’s ability to deal with any damage caused.

In a statement the DfI said: “Ongoing industrial action by members of the Unite and GMB unions until midnight on Wednesday September 27 may disrupt the Department’s initial response to any potential storm clear-up operation and other essential services which are routinely delivered by DfI staff on the road network.”

Impacted services include response and clear-up operations when there are incidents on the road such as unexpected debris, response to calls to the flood incident line and response to flood emergencies.

NI Electricity has warned that power cuts are possible, and ESB networks are showing power faults in a number of counties including Cork, Wexford and Tipperary.

Huge waves have been captured pummelling the coast as Storm Agnes makes landfall in Ireland.

In a statement, Irish Ferries said disruption to schedules may be experienced due to adverse weather conditions over the coming days, with passengers advised to check schedules.

Fallen trees are being reported across the island, with the roof being blown off a building in Youghal, County Cork.

Elsewhere, Kerry County Council said it has crews dealing with fallen trees and branches at a number of locations.

The Met Office has warned of “tricky” driving conditions as Storm Agnes continues to sweep the UK.

“Storm Agnes will continue to bring very wet and windy weather to many parts of the UK this evening with various weather warnings for wind and rain in force”, a Met Office spokesperson told The Independent.

“Some particularly tricky driving conditions are likely across Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of Northern England where some of the worst of the weather is expected.

“Irish Sea coastal areas will also have notably gusty winds. Overnight the wind and rain will slowly begin to ease.”

A flight has been pictured undergoing a bumpy landing into Manchester Airport as Storm Agnes continues to heat up.

Elsewhere, Cork Airport has experienced some delays and cancellations, and a spokesperson from Belfast City airport said disruption to schedules across the UK due to the weather is “likely.”

The strongest winds are expected to hit Northern Ireland, southwest Scotland, west and northwest Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire, where the Met Office warned some places inland could experience winds of up to 60 mph, reaching 75 mph over hills and around coastal areas.

The Met Office names its storms when they are set to have a medium or high impact on the UK in order to help it communicate with the public in times of severe weather, announcing a list of storm names at the start of the new season in September.

These are compiled jointly by the UK’s Met Office, Irish meteorologists at Met Éireann and the Dutch forecasters at KNMI.

The Met Office welcomes suggestions from the public, who have been invited to submit names for future storms since 2015.

The institution says it usually receives thousands of suggestions throughout the year, which it uses to come up with the list of future storm names, along with suggestions from the Irish and Dutch weather services.

It makes sure to choose “some of the more popular names and names that reflect the diversity of the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands”.

The list starts with A and runs through the alphabet, alternating between traditional male and female names. However, there are no storm names starting with Q, U, X, Y and Z. This is to maintain consistency with the US, which does not use these letters to name storms either.

A fire station in Dublin has dealt with a downed tree as forecasters have warned that the “worst conditions are still to come.”

Agnes, the first named storm of the season, has triggered a series of Met Office yellow weather warnings for wind and rain, with forecasts of damaging winds and big stormy seas.

As Storm Agnes hits the UK, weather warnings have been announced across the country with winds of 75mph expected this afternoon.

The Met Office has said that the first named storm of the season will “rapidly intensify”, with a danger to life warning issued by the forecaster from Wednesday until Thursday.

While initially a bright and dry morning, Storm Agnes is set to arrive from the west by the afternoon, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that could cause flooding and distruption to travel services.

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