A major storm with heavy rain and strong winds is expected to hit northwestern Europe tonight, crossing the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.
The powerful storm, named Kiran, could bring wind gusts of up to 170 kilometers per hour in places with heavy rain, as well as waves of ten meters.
The warnings apply in particular to a large part of northwestern France, the Belgian coast and the southeastern tip of England and Wales in the UK.
From today at midnight until tomorrow morning, three coastal French departments in Brittany and Normandy are under a red meteo alert, which is the maximum level of alert, the French meteorological service Meteo-France announced.
Two departments in Brittany have also been put on orange weather alert for flooding rains and tidal waves.
Storm Kiran should hit the tip of the Brittany peninsula with wind gusts of 130 to 150 kilometers per hour on the coast, Francois Guran of Meteo France said yesterday.
In the second part of the night, there will be the second phase of the storm, the strongest, mostly in Brittany and Normandy, he said, adding that wind gusts could then reach 170 kilometers per hour in the most exposed parts.
A total of 17 French departments, also south-west and north of Paris, were placed under an orange warning for tidal waves, wind or rain that could cause flooding.
Waves of eight to ten meters are expected on the French Atlantic coast, local officials warned.
The French railway company SNCF has announced that it is suspending the operation of regional trains and several lines of high-speed TGV trains.
Two airports in Brittany were closed this afternoon while the movement of trucks in that part of France will be prohibited tomorrow due to expected strong gusts of wind.
In the UK, orange warnings for strong winds have been issued especially for the south of the country, the south-west tip of England, Wales and the rest of the Channel coast.
The warnings are in effect from midnight today until tomorrow evening, and winds of 100 to 134 kilometers per hour are expected.
Heavy rainfall is also expected over two days in the north-east of England, to Scotland, in the eastern part of Northern Ireland, which has already been affected by floods.
The British weather service Met Office predicts that up to 80 millimeters of rain will fall, and there is a risk of flooding.
Around 12.000 sandbags have been deployed in the east of Northern Ireland due to the floods, which have already disrupted one train line and 800 calls for help have been made.
The English island of Jersey is under a red weather alert as large waves are expected to cause flooding and high waves tomorrow before midday.
Great Britain was already affected by storm Babet ten days ago, in which five people lost their lives due to large floods that engulfed thousands of houses.
In Belgium, the meteorological service has issued an orange warning for the Flemish coast and a yellow warning for the rest of the country, due to the intense winds expected tomorrow, which can reach a strength of up to 110 kilometers per hour.
More Cities Antwerp, Brussels, Liège have announced that they are closing green areas as a precaution starting this afternoon and all day tomorrow due to the predicted strong gusts of wind.
Strong disruptions are expected in the Belgian railway network, where trains will run at a slower speed tomorrow, and the connection to the Flemish coast will be interrupted, the national railway operator announced.
In the Netherlands, the meteorological service has limited the alert level to yellow for tomorrow.
The Dutch Automobile Association has advised citizens to work from home to avoid traffic jams, and some schools will be closed.
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