UK minister warns of 'exceptional' weather ahead

Britain's Environment Secretary Owen Paterson warned that "exceptional" weather lay ahead for swathes of the country as severe flood warnings were in place Friday with more torrential downpours forecast. The Environment Agency issued more than 200 flood warnings, 21 of them "severe", meaning that lives were at risk. South-west England was set to bear the brunt of the heavy rain and winds of up to 60 miles per hour, while in Northern Ireland, some Belfast residents were advised to pack their bags for a possible evacuation amid fears of a tidal surge. The Environment Agency has warned people to stay away from the coastline. Paterson, who chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra emergencies committee on Thursday, said Britain was expecting "a combination of exceptional rain, wind and a surge in sea and high tides". "We had a range of ministers from right across government attending the meeting, who will be working very closely with local councils, power companies, utility and transport companies, making sure that all of those organisations are absolutely prepared for the bad weather that is coming," Paterson told Sky News. The latest storms have already claimed at least two lives. A 27-year-old man died after he was swept out to sea off Porthleven, Cornwall on New Year's Eve while paddling with friends, while a woman drowned Tuesday off Croyde Bay in north Devon. Emergency workers were also searching for a man believed to have fallen into the River Stour, near Iford Bridge in Christchurch, Devon. Pete Fox of the Environment Agency urged people to stay away from the coast on Friday. "Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea," he said. Meanwhile energy bosses are due to face a grilling by MPs next week after more than 150,000 homes were cut off over Christmas following torrential rain, high winds and flooding.