Storm Desmond: Weather sees police declare major incident as severe flooding and 80mph winds lash UK

One man dies as extreme conditions cause homes to be evacuated, disrupt trains and strand drivers

Flooding in Cumbria, which has been given a‘red warning area’ label by the Met Office (Caters News Agency)

Storm Desmond has lashed large areas of England and Scotland as severe flooding and winds of up 80mph caused police to declare a major incident.

More than 30 severe storm warnings – indicating danger to life – were issued in Cumbria and Northumberland, and two severe storm alerts were issued in south-west Scotland as heavy rain continued well into Sunday.

Homes in the Cumbrian towns of Appleby and Keswick were evacuated and drivers were rescued from stranded cars as flood waters breached defences, submerged streets and disrupted road and rail services.

In London, a 90-year-old man died near Finchley Central station after he was blown into the side of a moving bus by a gust of wind.

The storm also caused disruption in north Wales, Northern Ireland and North Yorkshire, where thousands of homes were left without electricity.

The M8 at Bathgate, West Lothian, was closed in both directions after a lorry jacknifed and hit the central reservation, and landslides in the Highlands caused the closure of the A82 overnight.

“River levels across northern England are already high and we are expecting to see severe flooding locally as a result of today’s rainfall, with communities in Cumbria likely to be the most affected due to flooding of roads and properties,” said Jonathan Day, flood risk manager for the Environment Agency.

The agency has issued 17 severe flood warnings – indicating potential “danger to life” – for parts of the river Tyne in Northumberland and Cumbria, the river Greta at Keswick and the river Eden at Appleby.

Residents across northern England, the Midlands and Wales were also advised through further warnings to take immediate action in anticipation of flooding. Cumbria was expected to receive more than 150mm of rain before the storm clears southwards this morning.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had 15 flood alerts in place around the country and issued multiple flood warnings in Tayside, the Borders and Easter Ross and the Great Glen.

Anyone driving in flooded areas is urged to take great care. Simon Williams, a spokesman for the RAC, warned motorists: “Water getting sucked into engines can cause catastrophic damage, which could lead to a frightening repair bill.”

The Met Office expects the weather to remain unsettled over the next five days; the wettest and windiest conditions are expected in the north and west, it says.