Storm Babet Brings Rare Weather Warning After Flooding Irish Streets

A storm approaching Scotland has prompted weather experts in the United Kingdom to issue a rare type of weather warning that the country's national weather service told Newsweek is "reserved for the most extreme weather impacts."

The Red weather warning was issued for parts of eastern Scotland in anticipation of significant rainfall that could cause "severe" flooding. The warning will go into effect on Thursday at 6 p.m. local time and will remain through noon on Friday.

Between 100 and 150 millimeters of rain are expected to fall in most areas covered by the Red warning as Storm Babet passes through, though some locations could see rainfall volumes of 200 to 250 millimeters, according to the U.K.'s Meteorological (Met) Office. In a Wednesday press release, Met Office forecasters said impacts from Babet could pose "a danger to life from flood water" as homes and businesses face risks of "extensive" flooding.

While the storm is forecast to move north, the wind and rain it generates could impact many areas throughout the U.K. over the next few days. In southern England, forecasters are anticipating heavy rainfall on Friday.

Babet's impacts were already being felt in parts of Ireland on Wednesday. Cork residents posted videos of flooded streets on social media that were later highlighted by AccuWeather. In one video shared on X, formerly Twitter, a local art gallery posted footage showing vehicles navigating slowly through floodwater.

Another video shared on X showed rushing floodwater streaming through a grassy golf course.

The Met Office said Babet could also cause landslides in areas covered by the Red warning. Weather experts and local officials urged residents to pay attention to flooding risks and keep their eyes out for official flood warnings. They also discouraged traveling while the storm passes through.

"Travel should be avoided unless absolutely essential," Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said on X. "The Scottish government is working with local resilience partners, including our emergency services, to ensure we keep everyone safe & mitigate disruption as best we can."

Storm Babet marks the first time the Met Office has issued a Red weather warning this year. The last Red warnings were issued in mid-July 2022 for extreme heat in parts of England and in February 2022 as Storm Eunice brought strong wind to parts of England and South Wales, Met Office Senior Press Officer Nicola Maxey told Newsweek. Only one Red warning was issued in 2021.

"The current red warning is the first red warning we have issued for rain since Storm Dennis in February 2020," Maxey added. "The last red warning for rain we issued for an area of Scotland was associated with Storm Desmond in December 2015, when the initial red warning was over Cumbria but was later extended across the border into Scotland."

Maxey said the Red weather warning is considered "relatively rare" for the U.K.