While Storm Babet has officially ended, the flooding it has caused might stick around for the days to come, according to the Environment Agency.
The past weekend saw the UK get battered with rain and wind, leaving hundreds of properties submerged from flooding.
On Sunday, the number of people who died in incidents related to the storm rose to seven.
With 116 flood warnings still in place, the Environment Agency said that more flooding due to heavy rain remained a possibility until Wednesday, October 25, for parts of England.
It also added that parts of Yorkshire, the Humber, and the Easy Midlands could experience more flooding today (Monday, October 23).
The week ahead will start on a bright and chilly note, but the weather will remain unsettled with further spells of wind and rain throughout the week
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 22, 2023
Find out all the details below 👇 pic.twitter.com/cMfV52zSA9
What is Storm Babet?
Storm Babet has travelled from the Atlantic to Ireland, bringing strong gusts and heavy rainfall, and severely impacting areas of the UK since Monday, October 16.
It caused the Met Office to issue a rare red weather warning after concerns about “danger to life from fast-flowing or deep floodwater”.
Experts believe that it was caused by a number of factors. Dr Hannah Cloke, professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, told The Independent: “Storm Babet is an extraordinary piece of weather caused by the interaction of a number of linked conditions across the world.
“The jet stream, which plays such an important role in the weather in Europe, has been squeezed into a weird position, partly as a result of a powerful typhoon that hit Japan last week”
Some have also highlighted the role climate change may have played, as recent research shows that increased global temperatures are making rainfall more severe.
Has Storm Babet left the UK?
According to the Met Office, Storm Babet has now left the UK.
The weather is expected to be unsettled this week, with more rain and showers at times, but the Met Office believes that the extreme conditions brought by the storm have passed.
How long could the effects of Storm Babet last?
Some effects of Storm Babet could take a long time to be addressed.
The Tory councillor for Scotland’s Brechin region urged the Scottish government to increase funding for the area, saying it could take “years” to resolve the damage done by the storm.
Councillor Gavin Nicol explained: “I can tell you the repercussions of the flooding will take months and years to resolve. Angus Council, unfortunately, does not have the resources to do the job, it needs to to protect the residents.
“We really need finance from the Scottish Government in order to protect our residents, to rehome them. Some will be out for months, if not permanently.”
Around 1,250 properties in England have been flooded and the Environment Agency said more flooding could happen in the coming days.
The EA said: “River flooding will continue into Wednesday along the River Severn.
“Further flooding is possible from rivers and surface water on Tuesday and Wednesday for parts of England due to further heavy rain.”
