UK faces ‘winter of greater flooding’, Burnham warns amid severe weather

The UK could face “a winter of greater flooding” as two named storms bring disruption across the country this weekend, the Prime Minister has warned.

Thousands of homes are already without power and flights have been cancelled as forecasters confirmed a further amber weather warning for wind from Saturday into Sunday.

Andy Burnham was asked if the Government is playing catch-up with civil preparedness as he attended a summit organised to learn from the summer’s record wildfires.

Mr Burnham told reporters: “No, we are having the conversation with people about being better prepared because we’re living in a world where unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common.

“Obviously weather events – and we’re in a situation today where the UK is facing storms, and obviously we feel for the people without power in Cornwall right now – it is just having those supplies in the house to get you through those moments.

“We are having that conversation about resilience. That’s why we’re holding this summit today, it’s why we’re putting the guidance out to the public.

“We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it’s about recognising all of those risks and taking action.”

(Press Association Graphics)

PA Graphics

A Government campaign aimed at urging people to stock supplies of food and essentials in case of multi-day emergencies made headlines overnight.

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, has brought severe conditions to parts of the South West, with a gust of 76mph recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly on Friday morning.

Just before 11am, more than 16,000 homes were without power in the South West, according to National Grid.

People use umbrellas during a downpour in central London on Friday (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

PA Wire

Of those, more than 5,000 are customers who have signed up to the priority services register of people who may have additional needs or require extra support.

A spokesman for National Grid said that as of 8am, engineers had restored power to more than 12,000 properties affected by Storm Austen.

The Met Office had issued an amber warning for wind, covering Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly, which was in effect from 1am until 10am on Friday.

Forecasters have now issued an amber warning for wind from Storm Boelo, which is in place for 24 hours from 9pm on Saturday covering Scotland, the north coast of Northern Ireland, and Cumbria and Northumberland in the north of England.