WEATHER WARNING: Monster waves and floods to hit coastal resorts over next 24 HOURS

Storms to engulf parts of UK, particularly Wales and South-West coastal areas

MONSTER waves whipped up by unseasonal gales threaten flooding in parts of Britain over the next 24 hours.

 

Strong winds battering the UK from the Atlantic have put western regions on alert for disruption with holidaymakers warned to take extra care.

The Met Office warned waves topping 12ft could tumble over sea defences as storms sweeps in from the Atlantic.

Winds speeds were picking up tonight with further strong gusts expected until this Tuesday evening.

 

Forecasters blame a deep low pressure system barrelling in from the Atlantic for the unsettled conditions.

A Met Office spokesman said: “A low pressure system off to the west of the UK is generating some big waves which are set to affect western coasts through Tuesday.

“There will also be some fairly strong winds with the potential for gale force gusts around coasts in western areas which may make for difficult conditions for those camping.

“With many people around the coasts for summer holidays, people are being urged to take care.”

Forecasters have issued a warning to those who may be camping

the force of surging water or breaking waves can easily knock you over and quickly and drag you out of your depth and once in the water it can be difficult to get out       

RNLI spokesman

The Environment Agency has 15 flood alerts in place across the UK with the South-west, Wales and western coasts most at risk.

The RNLI warned holidaying families to take care. A spokesman said: “Large waves could make some normal coastal activities we take for granted significantly more risky; the force of surging water or breaking waves can easily knock you over and quickly and drag you out of your depth and once in the water it can be difficult to get out.

“Those particularly at risk from these conditions are walkers on beaches or harbour walls when the water is high; spectators looking at the waves who get too close; and anglers fishing from rocks or exposed headlands.

“With a low pressure and high winds forecast, areas that you may have considered safe before could be underwater when large waves come ashore.”

It comes as the topsy-turvy summer weather dishes up chaotic mix for the last few weeks of summer.

July kicked off to a record start with temperatures hitting 36.7C (98F) in London before ending with some of the coldest temperatures ever for the month.

Though uncertain, forecasters say the outlook for the rest of the month is mixed with surges of heat followers by more unsettled periods.



Wales and the Western coasts are most at risk

The outlook for the rest of the week, though stormy, is for a plume of warm air from the Continent to send thermometers rocketing.

 

The mercury could nudge a steamy 30C (86F) by Thursday although rather than blue skies and sunshine it will be wet and windy.

Kirsty McCabe, forecaster for The Weather Channel UK, said: “It is a drier day on Thursday with bright or sunny spells and some patchy rain hanging on for Scotland and northern England.

“It will be warmer too with light winds and highs 19C (66F) to 26C (79F).

“Currently Friday looks partly cloudy and dry until light rain moves into the southwest later in the day affecting southwest England and Wales.”

Chris Burton, forecaster for The Weather Network, said: “An unseasonably deep Atlantic low will dominate the UK’s weather at the start of the new working week.

 

The Environment Agency has 15 flood alerts in place across the UK with the South-west

“Western areas will see the most frequent showers through Tuesday with winds gusting over 40mph in western Scotland.

“Large swells of the Atlantic will also bring some big waves to western coasts, leading to rather dangerous conditions on the beaches during the peak of the school holidays.

“Southern and eastern areas will have the best conditions with very few showers, sunny spells and temperatures into the low 20s Celsius.

“Through Friday and into the weekend, there signs of a more widespread spell of dry and settled weather as high pressure tries to build from the south-west, but confidence is low at this stage.

Netweather said temperatures in the far south could nudge a tropical-feeling 30C by the end of the week.

Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden added: “Another heat surge will occur for many parts from the middle part of this week, in particular, in parts of northern, central, eastern and southern England.”