Met Office upgrades weather warning for Northumberland as Storm Babet takes hold

A yellow warning for heavy rain had previously been issued but this has now been upgraded for the period from 12pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

Persistent heavy rain is expected to bring the likelihood of some flooding and disruption.

The Met Office state: ‘Following on from wet weather on Thursday, a further spell of persistent and at times heavy rain will affect parts of southeast Scotland and northern England during Friday, lasting into early Saturday.

‘Widely 40-60 mm of rain is likely to fall, but the east-facing high ground from southeast Scotland to the Cheviots, south to the Peak District may see between 80 and 120 mm of rain locally. Strong easterly winds may exacerbate the impacts of the heavy rain.’

A yellow weather warning for heavy rain is also in place for the North East, including Northumberland, from midnight on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

Planning and preparation for Northumberland County Council’s response is well underway based on the experiences from previous storms.

There are staff across the council working to ensure drains and gullies are kept clear, vulnerable residents are okay and plans are in place should there be damage caused by wind or heavy rainfall.

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service teams are also on standby with pumps and water rescue capability if required.

Residents are also encouraged to play their part by securing loose items like garden furniture and trampolines and parking cars in a garage, if available; or keeping them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences.

Councillor Gordon Stewart, cabinet member for Looking After Our Communities with Northumberland County Council, said: “This will be a real joint effort and we’re working alongside colleagues in other emergency services and local communities to do all we can to support residents and keep the county safe.

“With travel disruption already in Scotland we’re in for some difficult and dangerous road conditions and would advise people against unnecessary travel over the coming days, particularly in exposed areas.

“As we work through Storm Babet we’d once again like to thank the people of Northumberland – they've been fantastic in previous storms supporting each other, looking out for their neighbours and we’re confident we’ll see this again.”

National Highways is also advising motorists to plan ahead for their journeys.

Dale Hipkiss, national network manager at National Highways said: “If you're using the roads slow down and give yourself more space between you and the vehicle in front. It is harder for tyres to grip the road and excess spray makes it harder to see ahead."

Useful contact details include:

Northumberland Communities Together (for anyone struggling with food supplies or other essentials) Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm: 01670 620015. Northumberland County Council out-of-hours service: 0345 600 6400

Northern Powergrid www.northernpowergrid.com or call 105.

Scottish Power www.spenergynetworks.co.uk or call 105.

Northumbrian Water: 0345 717 1100.

One Call (for concerns about vulnerable residents or safeguarding issues): 01670 536400.

Met Office Storm Babet information https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2023/red-warning-issued-for-storm-babet

If you are experiencing an emergency call 999.

People can also keep up to date on the latest information via the council’s social media channels:Twitter: @northumberlandsFacebook: www.facebook.com/nccalerts