Storm Callum to fade after two killed in wild weather
Storm Callum is set to fade on Sunday after wreaking devastation across parts of the UK.
Two people were killed as torrential rain brought flooding and treacherous conditions to western parts and around coastal areas on Friday and Saturday.
A man died after a landslide near the village of Cwmduad in Carmarthenshire, west Wales, while another man was swept away by rough seas in Brighton, East Sussex.
Forecasters are predicting a fresh band of rain to push in from the south-west by dawn on Sunday, which will make its way east as the day progresses and bring a “reversal of fortunes”.
“The areas that have seen the bulk of the sunshine over the last couple of days will then be under the cloud, with patchy, light rain and drizzle at times,” said meteorologist Simon Partridge.
“Those areas further west which have seen huge amounts of rain will finally turn drier, brighter, with some decent sunny spells developing by the end of the day on Sunday.”
Scotland and Northern Ireland should largely have dry, clear conditions through Sunday.
The better weather will come as a relief to communities hit by Storm Callum, after rivers burst their banks, homes were flooded and power supplies were wiped out.
Wales bore the brunt of the wind and downpours, and people were urged to stay away from the town of Carmarthen after the River Towy burst its banks.
The fatal landslide happened on the A484 on Saturday, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Dyfed-Powys Police said.
The force also revealed that about 100 sheep had been washed away in the Carmarthenshire village of Pontargothi.
Storm Callum claimed its other victim in England, at about 1.30am on Saturday.
The man was found in water near Brighton Palace Pier and checked by paramedics who pronounced him dead, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
Other areas in the east and south-east of Britain escaped much of the storm’s wrath and enjoyed largely sunny, warm conditions.
Donna Nook in Lincolnshire reached 26.5C on Saturday, making it the warmest October day in seven years.
The weather is also expected to be much calmer next week.
Cloud and patchy rain are likely to remain in the south-east on Monday, with generally clear, dry conditions further north and west.
“There’s a cool clear start for many parts of the UK on Monday, and actually for much of the UK it’s a dry fine and sunny day to boot,” Mr Partridge said.
The clouds and patchy rain will remain over the south-east corner of the UK until the early hours of Tuesday with a drier, cooler outlook expected for the week, he added.