Storm Babet wreaked havoc on Saturday in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Norway, causing significant floods and damage in several cities.
In the UK, the storm led to the closure of London’s King’s Cross station on Saturday afternoon to control the flow of travelers, who crowded the lobby and platforms due to numerous train cancellations or delays.
In northern England, Leeds Bradford Airport, which had closed on Friday after a plane skidded off the runway due to the strong winds, reopened on Saturday morning.
In Chesterfield, central England, 400 homes were flooded, according to Toby Perkins, the Labour Party MP representing the constituency, speaking to the BBC on Saturday.
In Denmark, the storm caused water levels to rise in southern cities, flooding the ground floors of numerous homes, which also experienced power outages for hours. The water level surpassed the normal mark by more than two meters in cities like Aabenraa, Haderslev, Sønderborg, Hesnæs, Fynshav, Fåborg, and Assensson—an event occurring roughly once in a century, as per the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).
Norway also felt the impact, with up to 20,000 residents without electricity in the south on Saturday morning. The storm ripped off the roofs of several buildings, along with trees and masts.
The aftermath of Storm Babet underscores the challenges posed by extreme weather events, urging communities and authorities to remain vigilant and resilient in the face of such natural disasters.