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UK gales fell trees and disrupt travel UK gales fell trees, disrupt travel and close schools
(34 minutes later)
Gusts of 70mph-plus recorded in parts of England, and more snow falls in north and Scotland Gusts of 80mph-plus in many parts of UK, with more snow falls causing treacherous driving conditions
Matthew Weaver and agenciesMatthew Weaver and agencies
Thu 18 Jan 2018 08.51 GMT Thu 18 Jan 2018 10.47 GMT
Last modified on Thu 18 Jan 2018 10.06 GMT First published on Thu 18 Jan 2018 08.51 GMT
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Severe gales with gusts of more than 70mph have hit much of the UK, felling scores of trees and causing widespread travel disruption. Snow and severe gales with gusts of more than 80mph have hit much of the UK, causing widespread travel disruption and many schools to close.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for very strong winds for most of England. A separate yellow warning for snow and ice in western Scotland and Northern Ireland has been extended to cover northern England. The Met Office issued a yellow warning for very strong winds for most of England. A separate yellow warning for snow and ice in western Scotland and Northern Ireland has been extended to cover northern England.
High winds forced the closure of the Queen Elizabeth bridge across the Thames at Dartford, causing delays on the M25. In North Yorkshire, the A66 was closed in both directions. In Cambridgeshire, drivers were advised to travel only if necessary as lorries were blown over on the A47 and A11. Snow forced all the schools in Scottish borders to stay shut, while more than 100 schools were closed in County Durham, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Electricity cuts from wind-damaged power lines forced the closure of more than 30 schools in Norfolk.
Liscombe in Somerset recorded gusts of 74mph, and Stamford in Lincolnshire 73mph. High winds also forced the closure of the Queen Elizabeth bridge across the Thames at Dartford, causing delays on the M25. In Cambridgeshire, drivers were advised to travel only if necessary after lorries were blown over on the A47 and A11. In Suffolk, the Orwell bridge on the A14 was briefly closed.
Police in Surrey, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, and Lincolnshire all responded to reports of a large number of fallen trees. Tibenham, in south Norfolk, recorded gusts of 83mph, while wind speeds of more than 70mph were also reported in Somerset, Lincolnshire and Suffolk.
More than 46,000 homes in East Anglia are without power, according to UK Power Networks.
Police in Surrey, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, and Lincolnshire responded to reports of a large number of fallen trees.
C rota are heading home after cutting several trees clear this morning, and B rota taking over the challenge. pic.twitter.com/xmoLcG2VaSC rota are heading home after cutting several trees clear this morning, and B rota taking over the challenge. pic.twitter.com/xmoLcG2VaS
Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “It’s going to be a cold and blustery day with further showers, especially in the north and west. There is likely to be disruption to travel so before you had head out it’s worth taking a look at the state of the roads you will be travelling on.”Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “It’s going to be a cold and blustery day with further showers, especially in the north and west. There is likely to be disruption to travel so before you had head out it’s worth taking a look at the state of the roads you will be travelling on.”
The weather also affected the railways. Overhead electric wires were damaged between Wolverhampton and Stafford in the Midlands, and trains from East Anglia into London’s Liverpool Street were disrupted by an object blown into overhead electric cables near Stratford. There was a similar problem on the line between Ipswich and Colchester.The weather also affected the railways. Overhead electric wires were damaged between Wolverhampton and Stafford in the Midlands, and trains from East Anglia into London’s Liverpool Street were disrupted by an object blown into overhead electric cables near Stratford. There was a similar problem on the line between Ipswich and Colchester.
Passengers were advised to expect delays to and from Manchester Piccadilly, between Birmingham New Street and Crewe, through Birmingham New Street and between Birmingham New Street and Redditch.Passengers were advised to expect delays to and from Manchester Piccadilly, between Birmingham New Street and Crewe, through Birmingham New Street and between Birmingham New Street and Redditch.
In Wales, a freight train hit two sheds that had blown on to the line between Newton and Welshpool, causing cancellations.In Wales, a freight train hit two sheds that had blown on to the line between Newton and Welshpool, causing cancellations.
Overnight temperatures dropped as low as -7C (19F) in Loch Glascarnoch, in the Highlands. Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway recorded up 36cm of lying snow, while Spadeadam in Cumbria had 23cm after 20cm fell on Wednesday night alone.Overnight temperatures dropped as low as -7C (19F) in Loch Glascarnoch, in the Highlands. Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway recorded up 36cm of lying snow, while Spadeadam in Cumbria had 23cm after 20cm fell on Wednesday night alone.
On Wednesday, persistent snow and ice caused treacherous driving conditions and brought the M74 in Scotland to a standstill. During the night, Police Scotland issued a “stage four” warning, advising drivers to avoid travelling on roads in areas covered by amber snow warnings. This was later downgraded to stage three to warn motorists of a “high risk of disruption” in the morning.On Wednesday, persistent snow and ice caused treacherous driving conditions and brought the M74 in Scotland to a standstill. During the night, Police Scotland issued a “stage four” warning, advising drivers to avoid travelling on roads in areas covered by amber snow warnings. This was later downgraded to stage three to warn motorists of a “high risk of disruption” in the morning.
WeatherWeather
ScotlandScotland
North of EnglandNorth of England
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