Britain shivers but it’s ‘normal’

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 10

Britain shivers but it’s ‘normal’

NZPA-AAP London Britain is being lashed by gale force winds and driving rain in what is being described as the coldest August in 40 years. The weather brought traffic chaos and drove holidaymakers indoors at a time normally regarded as the summer peak season. Forecasts for the rest of the month are also grim, with predicted cold and wet weather. Cross-channel ferries have remained at their berths in the wake of force nine gales. The royal yacht Britannia left her anchorage off Cowes and headed for the safety of Portsmouth and the Coastguard reported one of its busiest days on record rescuing small boat owners in trouble. The aircraft carrier Ark Royal was blown from her berth at Portland Navy Base, in Dorset. Two tugs had to haul the 19,500 ton carrier back to the quayside. The wettest place in the United Kingdom was Cardiff which recorded 1.5 inches of rain on Monday. Firemen throughout the country were kept busy pumping out flooded shops and homes. The police reported dozens of accidents on wet roads and a council employee, aged 25, was killed when he was blown over the top of a marquee by a gust of wind in Portsmouth. Gary Moore was helping to widen the entrance to the marquee so that equipment could be brought out when he was picked up by a freak gust and hurled into the air.