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Rush hour travel disruption as storm batters UK Rush hour travel disruption as storm batters UK
(35 minutes later)
Rail services across much of southern Britain have been cancelled for the morning rush hour as a storm continues to batter parts of England and Wales.Rail services across much of southern Britain have been cancelled for the morning rush hour as a storm continues to batter parts of England and Wales.
Western Power said 2,000 properties are without power in the South West area. UK Power Networks says 40,000 homes are without power.
The M4 Second Severn crossing has reopened but the M48 Severn Bridge is still closed, while 130 flights have been cancelled at Heathrow airport.The M4 Second Severn crossing has reopened but the M48 Severn Bridge is still closed, while 130 flights have been cancelled at Heathrow airport.
The Met Office said a gust of 99mph (159km/h) was recorded at Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight, at 05:00 GMT.The Met Office said a gust of 99mph (159km/h) was recorded at Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight, at 05:00 GMT.
The Environment Agency has issued 19 flood warnings - all in south west England, there are also 146 flood alerts across England and Wales. The Environment Agency has issued 17 flood warnings - all in south west England, there are also 152 flood alerts across England and Wales.
Robin Gisby, network operations managing director for Network Rail, said commuters should expect considerable disruption on Monday morning. Robin Gisby, network operations managing director for Network Rail, said more than 40 railway line blockages caused by falling trees have been cleared, but more are expected to be found by special trains being used to clear tracks.
"This will impact up to Birmingham and up to Nottingham and the Midlands. If we get through this in the morning, restore the service during the afternoon and are able to start up a good service on Tuesday morning, in the circumstances I'll be pretty pleased," he said. He said: "In four cases the train being sent through to inspect the line has hit a fallen tree and we have one train in Devon which is currently disabled following a collision with a fallen tree. We are also dealing with a landslip in the New Forest area."
Mr Gisby added: "As the storm passes from west to east, we will be carrying out safety assessments as quickly as possible to clear routes and get trains running safely.
"We now expect to start services into Waterloo before 09.00 GMT. Routes from Sussex, Kent and Anglia will follow. Services elsewhere into London are running but at reduced capacity and speed."
Other travel warnings include:Other travel warnings include:
In other developments:In other developments:
Forecasters said exposed coasts in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent could face the strongest winds.Forecasters said exposed coasts in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent could face the strongest winds.
Ships over the English Channel have reported gusts in excess of 80mph, with one in the Dover Straits nearer 90mph.Ships over the English Channel have reported gusts in excess of 80mph, with one in the Dover Straits nearer 90mph.
BBC weather forecaster Mike Silverstone said the wind was moving inland.BBC weather forecaster Mike Silverstone said the wind was moving inland.
He said: "At the moment we've got some really strong winds running across parts of southern England and into the south Midlands.He said: "At the moment we've got some really strong winds running across parts of southern England and into the south Midlands.
"That core is running north-eastwards into East Anglia in the next two to three hours."That core is running north-eastwards into East Anglia in the next two to three hours.
"We will probably continue to see winds of 70 to 80mph before it runs into the North Sea by about 11.00 GMT.""We will probably continue to see winds of 70 to 80mph before it runs into the North Sea by about 11.00 GMT."
The Metropolitan Police is urging people to use its 101 number during the storm rather than 999, unless there is a "genuine" emergency.The Metropolitan Police is urging people to use its 101 number during the storm rather than 999, unless there is a "genuine" emergency.
Wind speeds of 115 mph were recorded during the so-called Great Storm of October 1987.Wind speeds of 115 mph were recorded during the so-called Great Storm of October 1987.
There is more information about the forecasts for Monday on the BBC Weather, Met Office and Environment Agency websites. See BBC Travel News for up to date travel information and the Highways Agency and Traffic Wales websites for details about road conditions. BBC Local has information from your area.There is more information about the forecasts for Monday on the BBC Weather, Met Office and Environment Agency websites. See BBC Travel News for up to date travel information and the Highways Agency and Traffic Wales websites for details about road conditions. BBC Local has information from your area.
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