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UK storms bring power cuts, transport disruption and flood warnings UK storms bring power cuts, transport disruption and flood warnings
(about 4 hours later)
Wild weather will continue to batter the UK on Thursday as thousands of people recover from flooding and power disruption to their homes brought on by heavy downpours and gale-force winds. Wild weather will continue to batter the UK on Thursday as thousands of people recover from flooding and power disruption brought on by heavy downpours and gale-force winds.
Gusts of up to 90mph are expected to cut across Northern Ireland and parts of western Scotland, while there are warnings of up to 20cm of snow in Scotland and icy roads across much of England.Gusts of up to 90mph are expected to cut across Northern Ireland and parts of western Scotland, while there are warnings of up to 20cm of snow in Scotland and icy roads across much of England.
Storms caused by an Atlantic depression left 7,000 customers without electricity in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, though most have now been reconnected, with another 3,500 affected in north-west England and almost 900 without power in south Wales. Storms caused by an Atlantic depression left 7,000 customers without electricity in Northern Ireland on Wednesday night, though most have now been reconnected, with another 3,500 affected in north-west England and almost 900 in south Wales.
A search for a missing sailor who fell overboard from a small cargo ship on the River Trent in north Lincolnshire was called off last night in "very poor" conditions. The search for a missing sailor who fell overboard from a small cargo ship on the river Trent in north Lincolnshire was called off in what were described as very poor conditions. It was due to resume on Thursday morning.
A 19-year-old man was also injured and taken to hospital when his car was hit by a falling tree in Warwickshire. A 19-year-old man was injured and taken to hospital after his car was hit by a falling tree in Warwickshire.
Flood warnings telling of the need for immediate action were in place on Thursday morning, with 26 in the south-west alone. There were 26 flood warnings in place in the south-west alone on Thursday morning, and a further 116 flood alerts were issued, many in Wales and the Midlands.
The Environment Agency said a number of rivers in Somerset and Devon could be liable to flood , including the rivers Yeo, Tamar, Brue, Torridge, Teign and Axe. The Environment Agency said a number of rivers in Somerset and Devon could flood , including the Yeo, Tamar, Brue, Torridge, Teign and Axe.
Roads in Bristol flooded on Wednesday, while in Cardiff the fire service had to pump water from streets. Roads in Bristol flooded on Wednesday, while in Cardiff the fire service had to pump water from the streets.
A further 116 flood alerts were in place, with many in Wales and the Midlands. Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said it expected further damage to the electricity network as the bad weather continued.
The bad weather is set to continue, with winds of 70mph to 80mph and gusts of 90mph in western Scotland and the Western Isles, the Met Office said, with large waves threatening coastal areas. Around 1,000 customers were still without electricity as of 11pm on Wednesday night because of trees down across power lines and broken electricity poles.
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said it expected further damage to the electricity network as bad weather is set to continue. NIE's spokeswoman, Julia Carson, said: "We were prepared for the storm and have already restored over 6,000 customers to power since the winds swept across Northern Ireland this afternoon.
Some 1,000 customers were without electricity as of 11pm on Wednesday night because of trees down across power lines and broken electricity poles, though NIE expected the number to rise during.
Spokeswoman Julia Carson said: "We were prepared for the storm and have already restored over 6,000 customers to power since the winds swept across Northern Ireland this afternoon.
"However, we are expecting the winds to peak in the early hours of the morning, causing additional disruption to electricity supplies, especially in eastern and northern areas.""However, we are expecting the winds to peak in the early hours of the morning, causing additional disruption to electricity supplies, especially in eastern and northern areas."
Coastguards and an RAF helicopter were on Wednesday night searching for a 45-year-old man, believed to be a foreign national, who fell overboard from a small cargo ship moored on the River Trent. Coastguards and an RAF helicopter searched for a 45-year-old man, believed to be a foreign national, who fell overboard from a small cargo ship moored on the river Trent.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the man was working with ropes on the MV Sea Melody when he appeared to become entangled and was pulled over the side, where he disappeared. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the man was working with ropes on the MV Sea Melody when he appeared to become entangled and was pulled over the side.
A helicopter from RAF Leconfield in East Yorkshire began a search and was joined by a coastguard team from Hull, but the search was called off because of gale force winds, and cold, driving rain, the MCA said.A helicopter from RAF Leconfield in East Yorkshire began a search and was joined by a coastguard team from Hull, but the search was called off because of gale force winds, and cold, driving rain, the MCA said.
Humber coastguard watch manager Mike Puplett said: "We understand that the crewman was not wearing a life jacket and, in these conditions particularly, I would say this should have been an essential bare minimum of safety equipment."Humber coastguard watch manager Mike Puplett said: "We understand that the crewman was not wearing a life jacket and, in these conditions particularly, I would say this should have been an essential bare minimum of safety equipment."
The search would continue on Thursday morning, he added.The search would continue on Thursday morning, he added.
Police closed the A595 at Moota in Cumbria on Wednesday after the roof was blown off a hotel, and the M6 is partially closed southbound between junctions 38 and 37 because of an overturned lorry, the Highways Agency said. The motorway was expected to reopen fully from 8am. Police closed the A595 at Moota in Cumbria on Wednesday after the roof was blown off a hotel, and the M6 was partially closed southbound between junctions 38 and 37 because of an overturned lorry, the Highways Agency said.
Rail commuters could also face delays. Strong winds and heavy rain are causing flooding and obstructions across the rail network in the south of England, National Rail said, affecting several CrossCountry and South West Trains routes. At Dover, tugboats were on hand to help ferries berth amid strong gusts in the English Channel.
Strong winds and heavy rain are causing flooding and obstructions across the rail network in the south of England, National Rail said, affecting several CrossCountry and South West Trains routes. At the Port of Dover in Kent, tugboats were on hand to help ferries berth amid strong gusts in the English Channel. Officials said the port stayed open but ferry schedules were subject to slight delay.
Officials said the port stayed open but ferry schedules were subject to "slight delay".
A port spokesman said: "The safety of our customers and staff remains the port's priority whilst efforts continue to minimise any disruption or delay to customers."A port spokesman said: "The safety of our customers and staff remains the port's priority whilst efforts continue to minimise any disruption or delay to customers."
Wednesday night's football fixtures were also hit by bad weather, with a Sky Bet Championship football match in Sheffield abandoned when heavy rain left the pitch unplayable. Wednesday night's football fixtures were also hit by the bad weather. Sheffield Wednesday's home match against Wigan at Hillsborough was called off early in the second half after large puddles formed on the playing surface.
Sheffield Wednesday's home match against Wigan, at Hillsborough, was called off early in the second half after large puddles appeared on the playing surface.
Stoke City's home tie against Manchester United in the League Cup was temporarily suspended due to heavy rain and hailstones.Stoke City's home tie against Manchester United in the League Cup was temporarily suspended due to heavy rain and hailstones.
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