Storm Benjamin sweeps across the UK

Rain and wind warnings are in force across parts of the UK as Storm Benjamin moves across the country, bringing the threat of flooding, power cuts, and widespread travel disruption. 

The Met Office has issued four yellow weather warnings for, with forecasts indicating strong winds and persistent rainfall across southern and eastern England and Wales. Gusts could reach 70mph (112km/h), leading to potential travel disruption and minor structural damage. 

The storm, named by Météo France, is tracking from the English Channel towards the North Sea over the course of the day. 

A yellow warning for rain remains in place until 18:00 BST, spanning southern England, the East Midlands, parts of Wales, and Yorkshire. Some areas could see 30–50mm of rainfall by the end of the day. In the 24 hours leading up to 03:00, the south-east coast bore the brunt of the downpours, with Pevensey in East Sussex recording 40mm of rain.  

The combination of heavy rain and severe wind has led to widespread disruption. The National Trust has closed some sites for safety reasons including Lydford Gorge in Devon due to the strong winds and risk of falling trees, while several parks in London, including Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park, have been forced to shut to 'keep visitors and staff safe'. 

Further north, East Anglia and Lincolnshire are under a rain warning until 21:00, accompanied by a yellow wind warning covering much of south-east England until midnight. The south-west, including Cornwall, Devon, and west Wales, faced similar wind alerts earlier in the day, in effect from 06:00 to 15:00 BST. 

Beyond the UK, western Europe is also expected to feel the impact of Benjamin, with France, Belgium, and the Netherlands forecast to experience even stronger winds and heavier rain. 

The adverse weather has already caused changes to sporting events, with the Europa League confirming that two Thursday fixtures have been rescheduled. Feyenoord’s match against Panathinaikos in Rotterdam will now kick off two hours and fifteen minutes earlier, at 16:30 local time (15:30 BST). 

Why Storm Benjamin Was Named 

Although the Met Office did not expect the system to reach the severity threshold for a named UK storm, Météo France decided to classify it as Storm Benjamin due to the expected impact on northern and western France. The French agency issued orange-level warnings—one tier above yellow—for seven regions along the Atlantic coast and English Channel, warning of potential damage and disruption. 

Under the joint European naming system, once a national meteorological service designates a storm, all participating countries adopt the same name to ensure consistent communication. 

Storm Benjamin, therefore, will not replace “Bram” on the UK’s official list of named storms but will be recognised across Europe as it continues its path through the continent.