Summary

  • A third person has died as Storm Babet batters Scotland and causes chaos around the UK

  • Earlier, a 56-year-old man died after a falling tree hit his van near Forfar, and a 57-year-old woman was killed after being swept into the Water of Lee

  • A red weather warning has been issued in north east Scotland from midnight, while amber and yellow warnings are in place across the UK on Friday

  • In England, homes have been flooded, train services have been cancelled and roads and schools have been closed

  • A holiday jet skidded off a runway as it came in to land at Leeds Bradford Airport amid wet and windy conditions - the airport is now closed

  • It is a similar story in Wales, with flooding also closing schools and causing travel problems

  1. Goodnight - that's all for nowpublished at 22:53 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    We're calling it a night on the Storm Babet live page for now.

    As we leave you, communities in the north east of Scotland brace themselves for another red weather warning, which will come into force at midnight.

    There are amber and yellow warnings in place across much of the rest of the UK on Saturday.

    You can check Saturday's weather warnings here, external, on the Met Office website.

    Keep safe and remember to abide by the weather warnings covering your area.

    The live page team will be back with the latest updates in the morning.

    Today's page was edited by Paul McLaren and Mary McCool. The writers were Paul Hastie, Craig Hutchison, Graeme Ogston, Kathryn Hamlett, Tarik Habte, Adam Jones, Jamie Whitehead, Claire Diamond and Matt Roper.

  2. Key pointspublished at 22:45 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    We'll shortly be drawing today's live page on Storm Babet to a close.

    Before we go though, here's a recap of some of the key points from today:

    • Three people in the UK have died as Storm Babet swept across the country, causing widespread flooding and high winds.
    • A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in the town of Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire on Friday.
    • Police Scotland previously said a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus on Thursday evening, killing the 56-year-old driver.
    • A 57-year-old woman also died on Thursday after being swept into a river in the region.
    • A man is still missing in Aberdeenshire, after reports that he had been trapped in a vehicle by flood water near Marykirk at 03:00 on Friday morning.
    • The second named storm of the season also forced a passenger plane to skid off a runway at Leeds Bradford Airport. No one was injured.
    • Dozens of people – across Angus, Aberdeenshire and Suffolk – are spending the night in emergency accommodation.
    • And, across the UK, around 13,000 households are without power tonight.
    • Saturday will see weather warnings across different parts of the UK, with a red weather warning – which means there is a risk to life - covering parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire.
    • Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s first minister, warned the public not to travel in the red zone.

  3. What can you do if you are in a flood-risk area?published at 22:28 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Drain pipesImage source, Getty

    The British Red Cross offers advice, external on what people should do before, during and after flooding.

    It says before homes flood:

    • People should sign up for alert systems
    • Make an evacuation plan for family and pets
    • Prepare an emergency kit in case you need to leave quickly, including a mobile phone charger, medication, drinking water, emergency contact numbers and clothes - especially waterproof clothing
    • Check your home insurance policy. Make sure you have a policy which covers potential flood damage inside your home
    • If you live in an area at risk of flooding, let neighbours know, especially those who are elderly or vulnerable
  4. Watch: Flooding rages across the UK... in 60 secondspublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Media caption,

    Flooding across UK as Storm Babet hits

    Here are a number of key moments from Thursday into Friday as Storm Babet battered the UK.

    Three people have now died amid high winds, torrential rain and severe flooding.

  5. 'People ignoring advice put lives at risk' - fire servicepublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Coastguard rescue in Brechin
    Image caption,

    A coastguard rescue team works in Brechin

    Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Bruce Farquharson from the Scottish Fire and Rescue service toldRadio Scotland's Drivetime the last 24 hours have been extremely challenging.

    "We've had 700 emergency calls across all of Scotland," he said.

    The teams have been involved in evacuating people from their homes.

    He says: "The water levels are unprecedented."

    "It has been an extremely challenging time for everyone involved."

    He warns people not to go and take pictures of flood water and for the public to take heed of the advice from the emergency services.

    People ignoring the emergency advice could be putting lives at risk, he says.

  6. 'Do not travel in red alert zone' - Scotland's first ministerpublished at 21:30 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Humza YousafImage source, PA Media

    Scotland’s first minister has warned the public to heed weather warnings as Storm Babet is to bring more rain.

    Humza Yousaf was speaking after chairing the Scottish government’s resilience committee on Friday evening.

    He said Saturday's red weather warning, which will cover parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire from 00:01 to 23:59 on Saturday, signalled the severity of the weather situation – which would include ‘exceptional’ levels of rain likely to result in significant disruption and danger to life.

    Mr Yousaf urged the public not to travel and to stay at home in the affected areas, unless advised to evacuate.

    Amber warnings for rain will also be in place, covering Easter Ross, Caithness and Sutherland on Saturday. In these Amber areas it is being advised people should avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

    The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has reported record water levels, external at a number of its gauging stations.

    It said there were five severe flood warnings currently in place, as well as 12 regional flood alerts, and 17 local flood warnings.

    Mr Yousaf added: “We have not seen the last of this storm. Around half the average monthly rainfall for October is expected to fall through tonight and tomorrow in areas that have already been severely affected by exceptional levels of rainfall.

    “My message to those covered by the red warning remains: please stay at home and do not travel, unless advised to relocate to a rest centre."

  7. Almost 13,000 without power across the UK on Friday nightpublished at 21:11 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    RescuersImage source, PA Media

    Storms can - and do - cause power cuts, let's take a look at how England and Scotland are holding up

    Scotland

    • Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSEN) says it has managed to reconnect almost 30,000 customers and work is going on to reconnect another 2,800
    • There have been additional faults on the network because of the storm, but SSEN says these are being responded to quickly
    • The main affected areas in Scotland are Aberdeenshire Angus and Perthshire

    England

    • The Energy Networks Association said that 55,000 customers had been left without power, but 45,000 of those have been reconnected

  8. Is my train running this weekend?published at 20:49 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    A virgin trainImage source, PA Media

    The storm has of course caused disruption on the railway network across the UK, let's take a quick look at what the current situation is:

    Scotland

    • All services already cancelled due to Storm Babet are likely to be out of action until Sunday morning at the earliest
    • No trains are running between Aberdeen and Elgin; Edinburgh and Aberdeen via Fife; Perth and Aberdeen via Dundee; Dunblane and Perth; Perth and Aviemore; and Tain and Wick/Thurso
    • All Fife Circle services are suspended which is affecting routes between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Inverness

    England

    • All lines running through Swindon are blocked due to flooding
    • There are no trains between Derby and Sheffield or Nottingham, between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley; between Shrewsbury and Hereford/Wolverhampton; between Hereford and Birmingham New Street; between Chester and Crewe; or between Wrexham Central and Bidston.

    Wales

    • Customers are advised not to travel on the Wales and Borders network because of flooding - if you had a ticket for today, it will be valid for weekend travel
    • Routes between Cardiff and west Wales and Cardiff and Valley Lines are not affected at the moment

    Northern Ireland

    • Services between Downshire and Whitehead are running at a reduced speed due to the weather
  9. Rescued by boat after hours without food or heatpublished at 20:36 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Sean O'Neil
    BBC Scotland News in Dundee

    Jenna Grant (left) and Darlene Birst (Right)
    Image caption,

    Jenna Grant (left) and Darlene Birst (Right)

    The flooding has also hit Dundee with residents being taken out of their homes by boat.

    Dozens of residents fled their homes in Heron Rise as the Dighty Burn - a small river that runs through the north of the city - burst its banks around 05:00.

    Unlike in Brechin, Angus - which was covered by an earlier red alert - residents here said they had no warning the flood waters were coming. Four hours, other were left stranded in upstairs rooms and flats.

    Darlene Birse and Jenna Grant were the first people to be rescued when the Scottish Fire and Rescue boat turned up just after 13:00. They had spent hours cut off before being rescued along with their cats.

    “We tried to evacuate earlier on this morning but I nearly drowned, the current took us and I grabbed onto someone’s windscreen,” says Darlene.

    Jenna said they had been left without food, power and water, adding: “We’re happy to be out."

    The powerful current pulled cars downstream, with residents saying vehicles had ended up in gardens. Others floated helplessly in the middle of the road, abandoned during an escape attempt.

    Simon Goulding managed to get out of his before it got too deep. He tells me: “About five o’clock this morning my neighbour, he tapped on the door to say it was coming into the close, it was just a little lap of water coming in – and by the time I had gone back upstairs to get changed and come down – it was that quick.”

    Heron Rise
    Image caption,

    Heron Rise

    Heron Rise
    Image caption,

    Heron Rise

  10. The scale of the flooding is becoming clearpublished at 20:19 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Flood defences about to be breached in Rothbury
    Image caption,

    Flood defences about to be breached in Rothbury

    The sheer scale of flooding around the UK is becoming evident.

    Storm Babet is causing disruption across the length and breadth of the country.

    As well as the situation in Scotland and in the East of England, we also have people being moved from their homes in Northumberland.

    Residents close to the River Coquet in Rothbury were told to leave their homes on Friday evening.

    Local councillor Steven Bridgett said water levels had already reached 2.75 metres (9ft), higher than the forecasted peak of 2.4 metres (7.8ft).

    Emergency services, including the fire service and the police, are assisting.

    It comes as a weather warning for heavy rain remains in place across swathes of northern England.

  11. Another Scottish football match called offpublished at 19:57 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    A total of seven Scottish football matches have now been called off due to weather warnings on Saturday.

    Morton were due to play Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Greenock, but the match is the latest to be postponed.

    The SPFL's chief operating officer Calum Beattie said: "We have been in close contact with Police Scotland and our clubs and it's clear that we continue to face very severe weather, particularly in the North East, in the coming days.

    "We never postpone any matches lightly, but our discussions with the emergency services left us in no doubt that this was the correct decision."

  12. Watch: Severe flooding in the East Midlandspublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Homes, roads and businesses have been flooded as heavy rain continues to hit large parts of the East Midlands.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Severe flooding hits the East Midlands

  13. Up to 60 people to spend night at leisure centre in Suffolkpublished at 19:24 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    There has also been heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the East of England.

    The worst affected area appears to be Suffolk where dozens of people are expected to spend the night in a village leisure centre after Debenham, in Suffolk, became inundated with floodwater.

    An emergency rest centre was set up as some 250 people needed to get out of their homes.

    "There's been a convoy of tractors all day, bringing people in," said Steve Spelling, chair of the Debenham Sports and Leisure Centre.

    "We have 30 families here that have been washed out of their houses; we've got someone whose bungalow is up to their knees in water.

    "We expect at least 50 to 60 people to spend the night here."

    You can read more about the incident from BBC East of England journalists who are following developments live.

  14. One dead and homes and businesses flooded in the West Midlandspublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Storm Babet has been affecting large parts of the UK and with Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire among the worst affected.

    The storm has left at least one man dead after he was swept away in fast-flowing water from a brook near Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, that breached a road.

    If you want to follow deveopments from the region in detail our colleagues from the West Midlands team are covering the story live.

    Other developments include:

    • In Bewdley, Worcestershire, homes and businesses along part of the River Severn flooded after the installation of flood barriers had to be abandoned
    • The Environment Agency said the rising water in Bewdley made it unsafe for its staff to continue placing the barriers and they had to stop
    • A woman was rescued after being swept 100m downstream when she got out of her car in a Staffordshire ford
    • Many roads were impassable because of flooding and there was major rail disruption while more than a dozen schools were closed, mainly in Worcestershire

    The river Severn in Bewdley, Worcestershire
    Image caption,

    The river Severn in Bewdley, Worcestershire

    Stafford, Staffordshire, Englan
    Image caption,

    Flooding in Stafford

  15. A reminder of Friday's weather warningspublished at 19:03 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Fri weather warnings

    Amber weather warnings cover an area in the Scottish Borders, as well as some parts of northern England and the midlands - this lasts until 06:00 BST on Saturday.

    Meanwhile a yellow weather warning for much of the east coast of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, eastern England and the Midlands is also in place overnight.

  16. I had just moved into my new home... and then it floodedpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Kim Clark
    Image caption,

    Kim Clark

    Terri Masson should have been unpacking her belongings in her new home in the Scottish town of Brechin yesterday.

    But the 33-year-old had not had a chance to make a cup of tea before she was told by Angus Council she would have to leave.

    "I had just started to unpack and they came to the door and they were like, 'you have to go'," she says.

    The mother-of-five said she had to leave everything behind, including her youngest daughter's pram.

    "It was scary for the kids - we got out as quick as we could."

    Residents in the town say they have been flooded before but never anything like this.

    Despite warnings, many stayed put - worried for their belongings, pets or family.

    Kim Clark was among them. She says: "The water is right in my house. It's come right up. I've lost everything."

    You can read more about the Scottish town where the residents have lost everything.

  17. Woman swept 100m away from carpublished at 18:25 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Flooded Trescott ford, in WombourneImage source, West Midlands Fire Service

    A woman has been rescued from fast-flowing water after she was swept 100m (328ft) from her car.

    She had tried to drive through a ford in Wombourne, Staffordshire, but got out of her vehicle when the high water pushed it downstream at about 11:45 BST, West Midlands Fire Service said.

    The woman, who was believed to be in her 60s, was then swept downstream before managing to grab a tree branch.

    She was understood to have been taken by ambulance to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton for precautionary checks.

  18. What's happening with the plane that left the runway?published at 18:19 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    The TUI flightImage source, YapApp
    Image caption,

    The TUI flight

    We're now getting more details on the dramatic incident at Leeds Bradford Airport where a passenger jet left the runway on landing.

    Our colleagues in Yorkshire have been following the story and report that the airport authorities have now confirmed all passengers on board the TUI flight from Corfu have been safely taken off the plane.

    There were no injuries but the airport remains closed, with travellers urged to check with airlines before setting off.

    There have been some social media posts - apparently from passengers on board - who described the incident as a "bumpy hard landing".

    A TUI UK&I spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident at Leeds Bradford Airport this afternoon during the landing of flight TOM3551.

    "There are no reported injuries, and our ground team are on hand to support passengers as they disembark."

  19. Where are Saturday's weather warnings?published at 18:05 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Saturday map

    There are a range of weather warnings in place on Saturday.

    You can find all the details here on the Met Office website, external.

    RED - the red weather warning covers parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire

    AMBER - the amber weather warnings cover an area of the Highlands north of Inverness, parts of Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and Dundee, the Scottish Borders and a slice down the middle of England - from north of Newcastle to south of Nottingham.

    YELLOW - Northern Ireland is covered by a yellow weather warning, as is much of Scotland - from Aberdeenshire down through central Scotland and the Borders. Most of the north and east of England and the Midlands are also covered, as are large parts of Wales.

  20. Football fixtures postponed due to stormpublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 20 October 2023

    Rotherham United's stadium with flooding outsideImage source, PA Media

    A few Scottish football games have been called off because of the storm:

    • Scottish Premiership Aberdeen v Dundee and St Johnstone v Motherwell
    • Championship Arbroath v Raith Rovers
    • League 1 Cove Rangers v Montrose
    • League 2 Eglin City v Forfar Athletic and Stenhousemuir v Peterhead

    The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) says it will continue to monitor the situation involving the other matches, and new dates will be announced in due course.

    Meanwhile in the English Championship, Rotherham was due to play Ipswich Town on Friday evening but the match was called off for safety reasons.

    Ipswich Town said although the pitch at the stadium was playable, "areas outside the stadium are hazardous and more heavy rainfall is forecast this evening".

    The decision was made between representatives from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, South Yorkshire Police, Rotherham United safety personnel and the English Football League.