Storm Babet: Northern Ireland bracing itself for "extremely" heavy rain and high winds
A yellow weather warning has been issued
Last updated 16th Oct 2023
Northern Ireland was preparing today for the arrival of Storm Babet.
It was expected to hit the UK on Wednesday - and will last until Saturday.
Bringing with it will be "extremely" heavy rain and high winds according to forecasters.
A yellow severe weather warning has already been announced for Northern Ireland along with other areas of the UK.
The Met Office said the second named storm of the season could cause flooding, power cuts and travel disruption.
As much as 150 to 200mm of rain is expected to fall on central and eastern areas of Scotland and there is a possibility of 70mph gale-force winds affecting northern parts of the UK, forecasters warned.
Parts of England can expect more than 100mm of rainfall during the week with some isolated areas facing up to 150mm.
Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: "A disruptive period of weather is on the way.
"There's some high totals (of rain) which has the potential to disrupt travel plans... possibility of power cuts as well as the obvious risk of flooding.
"As you look at Wednesday, the first pulse of rain is looking to particularly influence Northern Ireland, Wales and the southwest of England, and into Thursday.
"But it's as you move from Thursday and into the week that shift very much focuses more towards central and eastern Scotland, but also some central and eastern areas of England as well."
He added that further weather warnings are likely to be announced by the Met Office in the coming days.