Heavy rain and strong winds swept across the UK as Storm Chandra arrived, triggering weather warnings, flooding, transport disruption and widespread school closures.
Several weather warnings were in force on Tuesday, including amber warnings for heavy rain in south-west England and strong winds along the eastern coast of Northern Ireland. The Met Office warned that gusts of 60 to 70mph were expected in eastern Northern Ireland, with coastal areas potentially seeing gusts of up to 75mph, describing easterly winds of that strength as unusual and likely to cause significant disruption.
An amber wind warning was issued for the eastern coast of Northern Ireland from early morning until late evening, alongside yellow rain and wind warnings covering the entire region throughout the day. Yellow warnings were also in place across much of southern England, with additional areas of northern England and Scotland affected.
A van stuck in the flooding in the hamlet of Weycroft, on January 27, 2026 in Axminster, England. Picture: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
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More than 100 flood warnings were active across England early on Tuesday, most of them in south-west England. In Scotland, flood warnings were issued for Aberbothrie and the River Isla at Coupar Angus, while six warnings were in force across Wales. A severe flood warning was declared in Ottery St Mary in Devon, where residents were told their homes could be submerged by fast-flowing floodwater.
The River Slaney bursts its banks in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Picture: Alamy
Local residents described dramatic conditions as rivers burst their banks. One resident overlooking the River Otter said the normally calm river had turned into a raging torrent, adding that traffic was struggling to leave the town as drivers turned back from flooded roads.
Snow fall in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. Storm Chandra brought travel disruption and flooding as strong winds and heavy rain hit much of the UK. Picture date: Tuesday January 27, 2026. Picture: Alamy
Emergency services reported significant disruption. Police warned motorists in parts of Devon not to travel due to surface water and flooding, while firefighters in Devon and Somerset rescued people from 25 vehicles trapped in floodwater on Tuesday morning. No casualties were reported.
Dozens of schools were closed as a result of the storm, with 47 shut in Devon and more than 300 in Northern Ireland. Flooding also led to multiple road closures across south-west England, including major routes in Devon and Somerset, while snow forced the closure of a key trans-Pennine road in northern England.
Transport disruption extended nationwide. Domestic flights were cancelled at several major airports, and numerous rail lines were closed because of flooding or fallen trees. High winds also led to restrictions on major bridges, with high-sided vehicles banned on some routes.
Storm Chandra has affected large parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, making it the latest in a series of named storms to hit the UK this winter.
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