Major incident declared in Somerset as Storm Chandra brings severe weather across UK and Ireland
Storm Chandra battered the United Kingdom and Ireland with major flooding, power outages, and travel disruptions on January 27 and 28, 2026. Hundreds of flood alerts were issued across the affected regions while local councils and emergency services carried out rescues in the southwest, where rainfall totals reached 45 mm (1.8 inches) in 24 hours with coastal gusts peaking near 110 km/h (70 mph).
Storm Chandra was the third named storm to strike the UK in January 2026, bringing widespread rainfall, strong winds, and localized snow in northern areas. The storm developed rapidly over the Atlantic before moving east toward Ireland and southwest Britain under a strong jet stream.
Chandra intensified rapidly over the eastern Atlantic under a strong upper-level jet. Its central pressure fell below 980 hPa as it approached Ireland, driving the severe winds across southern Britain and the Irish Sea. Sea-surface temperatures 1–2°C (1.8–3.6°F) above average enhanced convective rainbands along the storm’s warm front.
The Met Office issued amber and yellow warnings for rain, wind, and snow covering England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, while Met Éireann extended yellow alerts for heavy rain and gusty winds in southern and eastern counties of Ireland. Authorities warned that ground conditions were already saturated from earlier storms, raising the risk of rapid runoff and river overflow.
In Somerset, the county council declared a major incident after continuous rain caused the River Parrett and local tributaries to flood. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service conducted rescues from vehicles and flooded properties in Langport, Burrowbridge, and Ottery St. Mary.
Rainfall totals ranged from 40 to 50 mm (1.6–2 inches) in 24 hours across Devon and Cornwall, with up to 70 mm (3 inches) being reported in upland terrain areas.
Coastal gusts reached 100–110 km/h (60–70 mph), toppling trees and power lines. National Grid ESO reported thousands of customers were temporarily without electricity. Network Rail closed sections of track near Exeter St Davids and Taunton due to flooding, affecting services between Plymouth, Bristol, and London.
Northern Ireland was under amber wind warnings as gusts approached 100 km/h (62 mph) along the coast. More than 300 schools were closed on January 28 as a precaution.
Belfast City Airport cancelled several morning flights, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland urged motorists to avoid non-essential travel because of fallen trees and standing water on rural roads.
In the Republic of Ireland, gusts reached up to 95 km/h (59 mph) at Valentia, and rainfall totals were above 35 mm (1.4 inches) in Cork and Kerry. Sandbag distribution points and warned of tidal surges coinciding with evening high tide. Irish Rail introduced bus replacements on sections of track affected by flooding in County Wexford.
Further north, snow and ice warnings were in effect across Scotland and northern England as cold air followed Chandra’s trailing front. Cairngorm Summit recorded gusts around 120 km/h (75 mph) and temperatures near −4°C (25°F), causing temporary whiteout conditions above 300 m (985 feet).
Over 250 active flood warnings and alerts were issued across parts of England through January 28, including several “severe” warnings in Somerset and Devon. River levels are likely to remain high for several days as catchments drain slowly into already elevated groundwater systems.
Emergency services responded to hundreds of flood-related incidents across southern England and Wales. Somerset Council reported more than 150 calls to its flooding hotline on January 28. Cleanup and damage-assessment operations are continuing across affected areas.
The Met Office expects conditions will gradually improve from January 29 as the storm movs into the North Sea. Residual flooding and transport disruption are expected to persist through the week as rivers return to normal levels.
Feature image credit: NOAA/GOES-19, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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