Storm Babet shows no signs of abating as downpours continue to batter the UK

Storm Babet shows no signs of abating as downpours continue to batter the UK today, with three people dead and another red “danger to life” warning in place.

The rare red weather warning has been issued for parts of eastern Scotland all day, prompting First Minister Humza Yousaf to warn: “We have not seen the last of this.”

Yellow and amber warnings for rain that were in place across much of England overnight have expired. However, a yellow warning for wind remains in place until noon across the northeast of England and eastern Scotland.

Across England, there were over 353 flood warnings – where flooding is expected – in parts of the northeast, Yorkshire, northwest, East Anglia, south west and Midlands.

Meanwhile, 55,000 people were left without power on Friday due to the storm.

Around 45,000 of those were reconnected to the grid as of the evening, the Energy Networks Association said.

Leeds Bradford Airport remains closed after heavy winds forced a passenger plane to skid off a runway on Friday, although the airport should reopen at 10 am on Saturday.

The Met Office said in a post on X the highest rainfall total on Friday was 84mm in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Met forecaster Jonathan Vautrey said: “The focus of the Saturday rainfall shifts back northwards towards eastern and northern Scotland.

“Some parts of those areas have seen about a month and a half’s worth of rain already, but there’s another band that’s forecast to track its way northwards throughout the night and push its way towards relatively similar areas.“So there are further red and amber rain warnings in force for Saturday, potentially pushing those areas close towards two months of rain in three days.”