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UK weather: high winds batter Britain as Storm Atiyah sweeps in UK weather: Storm Atiyah brings high winds and power cuts
(about 4 hours later)
Disruption to transport and power cuts possible in run-up to election day on Thursday Blustery weather prompts two yellow alerts and warning of disruption to election voting
The UK has been buffeted by gales of up to 70mph on two coasts, with weather alerts in place from north Wales to the Isle of Wight, and an area from Middlesbrough to Norwich on the North Sea. The wet and windy weather that buffeted the UK on Sunday and Monday is expected to continue, with two yellow alerts in place from 5am on Tuesday stretching from the Midlands to the Scottish islands.
There is also a further yellow warning in place from 6am on Tuesday that covers the entire west coast of Scotland, as gusts of up to 100mph are expected that could cause disruption continuing through to Thursday, potentially affecting the general election. Gusts of up to 100mph were predicted to cause disruption through to Thursday, potentially affecting voting in the general election.
Storm Atiyah swept in from Ireland on Sunday, bringing gales that caused disruption to power and transport networks across the south-west and Wales and led to yellow weather alerts being issued overnight, with Culdrose in Cornwall measuring winds of 70mph at about 9pm.Storm Atiyah swept in from Ireland on Sunday, bringing gales that caused disruption to power and transport networks across the south-west and Wales and led to yellow weather alerts being issued overnight, with Culdrose in Cornwall measuring winds of 70mph at about 9pm.
Local power distribution companies registered 26 faults in the south-west on Sunday and two in Wales, which led to 5,500 customers being cut off over the course of the day. Power companies registered 26 faults in the south-west on Sunday and two in Wales, which led to 5,500 customers being cut off.
The M48 Severn Bridge was forced to introduce lane closures during Sunday, and residents of coastal areas were warned to be wary of tidal surges that could throw debris over sea defences. There were lane closures on the M48 Severn Bridge on Sunday, and coastal communities were warned tidal surges could throw debris over sea defences.
“The strong winds are pretty widespread,” said the Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill. “It’s very windy in the west and south-west so that’s where we’re going to see the greatest impact unfortunately.”“The strong winds are pretty widespread,” said the Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill. “It’s very windy in the west and south-west so that’s where we’re going to see the greatest impact unfortunately.”
The Met Office warned that delays were likely to continue on road, rail, air and ferry transport, and that short-term loss of power was possible in some areas into Monday. The Met Office said delays were likely to continue on road, rail, air and ferry transport, and that short-term loss of power was possible in some areas on Monday.
In Ireland, there were warnings of coastal flooding and Christmas events across the country were cancelled due to the high winds. Thousands were temporarily without power on the west coast in Co Galway and West Limerick. In Ireland, there were warnings of coastal flooding, and Christmas events across the country were cancelled due to high winds. Thousands of residents were temporarily without power on the west coast in County Galway and West Limerick.
The Met Office has forecast that England and Scotland will be “windy across all areas” from 6am on Tuesday, with severe gales possible in the north-west. A silver lining of the blustery conditions was that a renewable power record was set on Sunday evening, when windfarms generated more than 16GW of power – five times the output expected from the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, according to the National Grid.
On Sunday the wind supplied 43.7% of British electricity against 20.5% for nuclear.