Urgent warning ‘don’t leave your homes’ as Storm Henk hits with 94mph winds
Disruption to travel, roof damage and possible power outages are expected in the capital (Picture: @JuliusGeezer46)
‘Do not leave your homes,’ this is what Londoners are being told while Storm Henk batters Britain.
Footage circulating online shows massive scaffolding erected in Sutton becoming a victim to the strong winds.
The structure can be seen plummeting to the ground, also taking down Christmas lights, just a few meters from where a man is standing.
Disruption to travel, roof damage and possible power outages are expected to be just some of the consequences of the storm.
The Met Office issued an amber warning for wind across southern England, the Midlands, East Anglia and Wales until 8pm tonight.
Elsewhere, more than 1,000 people were evacuated amid fears of flash flooding.
Families were forced to abandon their caravans in the Nene Valley, Northampton, this afternoon as the Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning for the area.
As they left with what little they could carry, the downpour continued along with strong winds.
Linda Page, who had been holidaying in Billing Aquadrome, said: ‘It is terrible, the flood warning siren reminds me of the noise of the air raid sirens in World War II.’
The Environment Agency warned yesterday that the water level of River Nene has continued to rise since yesterday when the rain began.
‘Low lying areas near to the River Nene are already flooded,’ the statement said.
‘We expect Billing Aquadrome to be affected at some point during the night, Monday into Tuesday, and are issuing this warning proactively to give sufficient notice to take action.’
‘Remain safe and be aware of your local surroundings.’
The strongest gusts will initially be focused around southwest England and south Wales during late morning and early afternoon today, with gusts of up to 80mph possible in exposed coastal locations.
As the low pressure moves north-eastwards the strongest wind gusts also move eastwards across the UK with many parts of southern England, the south Midlands and East Anglia experiencing 50-60mph gusts through the afternoon and evening. Inland gusts could reach up to 60-70mph in one or two places for a time.
Credit: metro