This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-11734050
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 20 | Version 21 |
---|---|
Woman dies after gales batter UK | Woman dies after gales batter UK |
(40 minutes later) | |
A woman has died after a tree fell on her car during 24 hours of severe gales and torrential rain. | |
The 55-year-old was impaled on a branch in the incident in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on Thursday night and died a short time later in hospital. | |
Northern England, north Wales and Northern Ireland were worst hit by the bad weather, with electricity cut off, flights disrupted and bridges closed. | |
Damage to Blackpool's illuminations could cost up to £1m to repair. | |
West Yorkshire Police said the woman, from Pontefract, was travelling in a Vauxhall Zafira which was hit by the falling tree on the A642. | |
The 54-year-old male driver was hurt in the incident, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. | The 54-year-old male driver was hurt in the incident, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. |
Flights diverted | |
Gales peaked late on Thursday, easing off through the early hours of Friday morning. | |
Great Dun Fell, in the north Pennines, recorded gusts of 100mph (161km/h), and Capel Curig, in Snowdonia, experienced 91mph (146km/h) winds. | |
In Northern Ireland, some 6,000 people were left without power overnight, but services were restored by Friday afternoon. | |
The main areas affected were Dungannon and Omagh in County Tyrone, and Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. | |
At Leeds-Bradford airport, one flight from Dublin was forced to divert to Liverpool after making three unsuccessful attempts to land. Other planes were forced to fly on to Manchester. | At Leeds-Bradford airport, one flight from Dublin was forced to divert to Liverpool after making three unsuccessful attempts to land. Other planes were forced to fly on to Manchester. |
Coastal areas bore the brunt of the gales and in Lancashire, roads surrounding Blackpool Tower, including part of the Promenade, were closed due to gale-force winds. | |
Police made the decision to cordon off the area after scaffolding fell to the ground from the Tower, which is undergoing refurbishment. No-one was injured. | Police made the decision to cordon off the area after scaffolding fell to the ground from the Tower, which is undergoing refurbishment. No-one was injured. |
Blackpool Council said there was extensive damage to the famous illuminations. | |
Coastguards at Holyhead, north Wales, said wind speeds reached 78mph (126km/h) and some ferries to Northern Ireland from the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan on the west coast of Scotland were suspended. Some services were still disrupted on Friday. | |
The Britannia Bridge across the Menai Strait and Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire were closed overnight, but have since reopened with speed restrictions. | |
The Dartford-Thurrock Thames river crossing, the QEII bridge, was closed on Thursday afternoon for safety reasons and police in Northamptonshire had to cordon off a bungalow after part of a tree smashed into it. | The Dartford-Thurrock Thames river crossing, the QEII bridge, was closed on Thursday afternoon for safety reasons and police in Northamptonshire had to cordon off a bungalow after part of a tree smashed into it. |
There were reports of localised flooding in some parts of Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Wight. | |
Have you been affected by the weather? | Have you been affected by the weather? |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |