LONDON -- Residents of Cumbria, in northwest England, were advised to evacuate their homes due to severe flooding as Storm Desmond drenched the region in heavy rains on Saturday.
Cumbria police declared it a major incident and warned of disruption to transport. Several people have had to be rescued from vehicles caught in floodwaters, and the abandoned vehicles were blocking the roads.
The Met Office issued 17 severe flood warnings, which indicate danger to life, across large areas of north England and Scotland.
Severe weather warnings were also issued for Connacht, Clare, Kerry and Donegal in west Ireland. In Dublin, several UK and international flights were canceled.
RED warning for #rain has been extended to parts of Scotland https://t.co/TmvTfmDfrK #StormDesmond #alert pic.twitter.com/PmM84pjImD— Met Office (@metoffice) December 5, 2015
Images on TV and social media showed cars nearly submerged, overturned trucks and rushing waters.
In Appleby, Cumbria, a town with a population of fewer than 3,000, the River Eden burst its banks and some properties were left in 3 feet of water.
The scene in Appleby this morning #StormDesmond #staysafe pic.twitter.com/FFHEQQd9Zu— Barrow Police (@barrowpolice) December 5, 2015
Driving up the flooded A591 to check the shop wasn't flooded. Thanks @KentdaleLR #windermere #CumbriaFloods pic.twitter.com/CgW3as0ppR— Kingsley Jones (@KingsleyJones) December 5, 2015
Flooding in #llanrug #gwynedd #StormDesmond pic.twitter.com/OC2JfgiUZy— Sam Pritchard (@sam_pritch) December 5, 2015
The highest risk of flash flooding water in Keswick, Lake District with threats in life of danger from #StormDesmond pic.twitter.com/KRUVuOWaFB— Joint Cyclone Center (@JointCyclone) December 5, 2015
Major incident now declared across #Cumbria as rain from #StormDesmond causes major flooding with more rain to come. pic.twitter.com/JWPrzwZ5mY— Northampton Weather (@NNweather) December 5, 2015
Dramatic images of damage from wind gusts up to 80 mph also appeared on social media.
A cineworld had been roof blown off in Glasgow, Scotland with 80mph from #StormDesmond hits Scotland pic.twitter.com/qlJiBaJG9n— Joint Cyclone Center (@JointCyclone) December 5, 2015
Winds and rain were forecast to strengthen Saturday afternoon, and clear to the southeast on Sunday.