Storm Chandra To Hit UK: Residents Urged To Store Essentials Amid Power Cut Risk

Storm Chandra is set to bring strong winds, heavy rain and hill snow across large parts of the UK from late Monday into Tuesday, with the Met Office warning of flooding, travel disruption and possible power cuts as already saturated ground struggles to cope with fresh downpours and gale-force gusts.

Several weather warnings are in force over this period, including a 17-hour yellow alert for rain and snow from midnight Tuesday until 5pm, an amber warning for wind across eastern Northern Ireland, and an amber warning for heavy rain affecting parts of south-west England, all highlighting risks to transport, power networks and local communities.

Storm Chandra weather warnings for southern and western regions

Explaining conditions in southern England, the Met Office said: "Storm Chandra will bring persistent rain, heavy at times, later Monday and overnight before steadily clearing northeastwards on Tuesday morning. 30-50mm rainfall is likely widely, with 60-80mm across some higher ground, especially south Dartmoor. Falling on saturated ground, this is likely to lead to flooding and disruption, particularly on Tuesday morning. Strong southeasterly winds are also expected."

The wider Met Office briefing on Storm Chandra says the system will bring "a further spell of wet and windy conditions later Monday and into Tuesday", with gusty winds first affecting the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and south-west Wales before tracking north through the Irish Sea, increasing concern in areas still recovering from Storm Goretti.

In eastern Northern Ireland, an amber wind warning highlights expected gusts of 60-70mph in many places, with speeds possibly up to 75mph along exposed coasts, while heavy rain across south Devon, Dorset, southern Somerset and south-east Cornwall could trigger local flooding as new rainfall hits ground that is already holding significant water.

Storm Chandra weather warnings for snow and travel disruption

Further north, the main issue shifts from rain to snow, especially on higher routes in northern England and Scotland, where colder air will turn bands of precipitation wintry and may make key upland roads difficult, particularly if drifting develops in the strong southeasterly winds forecast for these areas.

The Met Office warned: "Whilst accumulating snow is unlikely at low-levels, there will be a sharp increase in snow depths with elevation, with the potential for 2-5cm in places above about 300m, 5-10cm above 400m, and 10-20cm above 500m. This may impact some high-level routes, with drifting possible in rather brisk southeasterly winds. Strong, gusty winds, especially to the west of hills, may exacerbate the potential for transport disruption."

Met Office Chief Forecaster Paul Gundersen said: "Storm Chandra will bring a range of hazards to the UK through Monday night and Tuesday. Initially strong winds will impact the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and southwest Wales which are still vulnerable after Storm Goretti, gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible here. Heavy rain is an additional hazard as it falls on saturated ground in Dorset and southern parts of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall. As Chandra interacts with colder air further north snow becomes a hazard, with 10-20cm of snow possibly accumulating over higher ground in the Pennines, southern Scotland and the Highlands. With a complex spell of weather, it's important people stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings in your area."

Storm Chandra weather warnings and home preparedness advice
With Storm Chandra likely to bring further strain on power lines and infrastructure, energy company British Gas has urged households to prepare for possible outages by keeping key items somewhere easy to reach, stressing that simple steps taken before bad weather can help people manage sudden loss of electricity more safely and with less stress.

British Gas is focusing on three basic pieces of equipment that support lighting, communication and information when the power fails, though the company also notes that extra supplies such as tinned food and warm blankets can provide extra comfort if homes are without electricity for longer during this unsettled spell of weather.

The recommended items for Storm Chandra are set out below.

Item Purpose during Storm Chandra
Torch Battery or wind-up torch to provide light if the power goes off.
Spare batteries AA, AAA or other required sizes to keep torches and key devices working.
Backup phone charger Portable battery pack and cable to maintain mobile contact and receive updates.
British Gas added: "You might even consider a battery-powered radio, to keep on top of local updates if you can't use your mobile." The guidance underlines how staying informed about Storm Chandra warnings, through phones or radios, can help people follow changing forecasts and any advice from emergency responders or local authorities.

As Storm Chandra tracks across the UK from late Monday into Tuesday, the combination of amber and yellow warnings for wind, rain and snow highlights a complex weather event, with flooding, transport disruption and power cuts all seen as realistic risks, so forecasters and energy providers alike are urging people to follow official updates and take basic steps to be ready.