At least three people have died as a result of Storm Babet that is battering the northern part of the UK.
In Scotland, at least two people were reported to have died as a result of the extreme weather, and a man has died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Shropshire, England. Meanwhile, while a plane in the north of England skidded off a runway.
Eastern Scotland continued to bear the brunt of the stormy weather. On Friday, the Met Office issued a new “red” warning, its highest, for parts of the region through Saturday.
“This is not usual autumn weather,” said Andy Page, the Met’s chief meteorologist. “This is an exceptional event, and we are likely to continue to see significant impacts with the potential for further flooding and damage to properties.”
A 57-year-old woman died on Thursday after being swept into a river in the region of Angus, where hundreds of homes were evacuated. Also on Thursday, a 56-year-old man died after his van hit a falling tree in the same area.
On Friday, a man in his 60s died after in the town of Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire on Friday, West Mercia Police said.
Though forecasters said the worst of the heavy rain in Scotland had passed, they warned that conditions will remain difficult, with river levels still on the rise and flood defences breached. Some parts of the town of Brechin are only accessible by boat after its flood defences were overwhelmed by the heavy rainfall, raising concerns about further loss of life.
The storm has already brought more than a month’s worth of rain in the worst-affected regions in Scotland and was pummeling many parts of northern England on Friday.
See pictures below:
Storm Babet: In Pictures
Brechin(01 of09)
Open Image ModalA woman watches members of the emergency wade through flood water in Brechin, Scotland, as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Andrew Milligan - PA Images via Getty Images)
Brechin(02 of09)
Open Image ModalA woman walks through flood water in Brechin, Scotland, as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Andrew Milligan - PA Images via Getty Images)
Telford(03 of09)
Open Image ModalThe Dale End Cafe in Coalbrookdale, Telford, is flooded after a nearby brook broke its banks as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Nick Potts - PA Images via Getty Images)
Scarborough(04 of09)
Open Image ModalWaves crash over the promenade in Scarborough, as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Danny Lawson - PA Images via Getty Images)
Stonehaven(05 of09)
Open Image ModalWaves at Stonehaven. The UK is bracing for heavy wind and rain from Storm Babet, the second named storm of the season. A rare red weather warning stating there is a "risk to life" has been issued for parts of Scotland as the storm is expected to batter the UK on Thursday. Picture date: Thursday October 19, 2023. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Andrew Milligan - PA Images via Getty Images)
South Shields(06 of09)
Open Image ModalWaves crash against South Shields lighthouse after the top was ripped off as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Owen Humphreys - PA Images via Getty Images)
Sunderland(07 of09)
Open Image ModalSea foam covers a road in Seaburn, Sunderland, as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Owen Humphreys - PA Images via Getty Images)
Scarborough(08 of09)
Open Image ModalWaves crash near to the 'Freddie Gilroy' sculpture by artist Ray Lonsdale in Scarborough, as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Danny Lawson - PA Images via Getty Images)
Brechin(09 of09)
Open Image ModalA moped covered in debris lies against a vehicle after being knocked over by flood water in Brechin, Scotland, as Storm Babet batters the country. Flood warnings are in place in Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and the Midlands. Thousands were left without power and facing flooding from "unprecedented" amounts of rain in east Scotland, while Babet is set to spread into northern and eastern England on Friday. Picture date: Friday October 20, 2023. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Andrew Milligan - PA Images via Getty Images)
At Leeds Bradford Airport, a flight arriving from the Greek island of Corfu slid off the runway while landing.
“We are working with the airline, relevant operations teams and emergency authorities to address this situation and remove passengers from the aircraft safely,” a spokesperson for the airport said.
In northeastern England, a lighthouse at the mouth of the River Tyne lost its distinctive red and white dome. Port of Tyne officials said it was not yet safe to assess the damage to the South Shields lighthouse while weather conditions remained dangerous.
On social media, people were sharing many of the dramatic scenes.