Storm Antoni Pours Month's Worth of Rain Across UK, Sewage Alerts Issued

Storm Antoni battered different parts of the United Kingdom over the weekend, causing widespread flooding and damage after dumping a month's worth of rainfall, according to reports. Antoni is the first named storm in the U.K. this year, which could be followed by succeeding storms in the coming months amid the ongoing Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June to November each year.

The recent stormy rain serves as a relief from several weeks of sweltering heat across the U.K., Europe, and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States and China. Although temperatures in Great Britain are still expected to spike again this season, moderate to severe storms are possible to hit the U.K. but also Ireland and mainland Europe.

Storm Antoni

The Met Office issued yellow and amber weather warnings for large swathes of the U.K. as Storm Antoni brought heavy rain and flooding in the western part of the country, the Independent U.K. reported. The extreme rainfall occurred in less than a day on Saturday, August 5. Whitby, North Yorkshire, is one of the several communities that were inundated.

In the storm's aftermath, Antoni brought 60 miles per hour wind gusts and a stormy sea in western U.K. The country's weather agency warned that a rare summer storm may continue and cause nationwide disruption, according to Sky News.

Sewage Alerts

Storm Antoni struck multiple areas of England, Northern Ireland, and Wales between Friday, August 4, and Saturday. Some residents were evacuated and U.K. weather authorities issued yellow rain warnings in Northern Ireland and amber warnings in southwest England and Wales, the BBC reported. Meanwhile, southeast England, including London, received yellow warnings for thunderstorms.

Despite the clearing of the weather, authorities have warned sea swimmers of the danger posed by sewage outflows following the brief U.K. storm. An interactive map provided by the Surfers Against Sewage organization shows the potential hazards caused by sewage pollution. As of Monday, August 7, sewage pollution alerts show 30 locations across the U.K. that are at risk of pollution.

U.K. Storms

In 2022, Storm Eunice, along with other weather systems, brought powerful winds across the U.K., causing widespread damage. The strong extratropical cyclone also wreaked havoc in some parts of Europe. Other storms also followed Eunice starting June last year during the same season as now.

According to experts, flooding in the U.K., especially in England and Wales, is a growing problem since cities and towns are getting larger, according to the British Red Cross.

In relation to this year's extreme heat, flooding can occur during the year. However, the U.K. can still experience more flooding during summer months, even during a period of hot weather and heatwaves, the organization adds.

This means the U.K. can still experience the summer heat at least for the month of August. There were no reported casualties so far in relation to the passage of Storm Antoni.