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Wales weather: 109mph gales and rain bring power cuts Wales weather: 109mph gales and rain bring power cuts
(about 3 hours later)
About 6,500 properties in north Wales are still without power following the gales, says Scottish Power. Around 4,200 properties in north Wales are still without power after gales battered much of Britain.
Engineers say they are working in "challenging conditions" to reconnect properties but warn they cannot give a timetable for work to be completed. Engineers from ScottishPower say they are working in "challenging conditions" to reconnect properties but warn they cannot give a timetable for work to be completed.
A Scottish Power spokesman said high winds and trees down across many roads were causing problems for work teams. A spokesman said high winds and fallen trees were causing them problems.
Anglesey and Gwynedd are the worst affected areas after recording gusts up of up to 109mph (175 km/h).Anglesey and Gwynedd are the worst affected areas after recording gusts up of up to 109mph (175 km/h).
Council workers have been clearing fallen trees from roads with south west and south east Wales also affected. Council workers have been clearing fallen trees from roads with parts of mid, north east, south west and south east Wales also affected.
There is one flood warning in place for the Lower Dee Valley and ten alerts. There is one flood warning in place for the Lower Dee Valley and three alerts as of 17:00 GMT on Friday.
Scottish Power said it was working to reconnect homes and businesses in north Wales which have lost power during the gales. Arriva Trains Wales said a replacement bus was operating between Harlech and Pwllheli due to damage to a river bridge at Llandecwyn.
The company said it had reconnected 14,500 homes across north Wales and Cheshire since the storm hit. In the south Wales valleys buses were also replacing trains between Aberdare and Mountain Ash after signalling equipment was damaged by flooding.
ScottishPower said it was working to reconnect homes and businesses in north Wales which have lost power during the gales.
The company said it had reconnected 16,800 homes across north Wales and Cheshire since the storm hit.
The spokesman said: "The biggest issue affecting the electricity network has been uprooted trees and other debris blown on to overhead power lines, which has caused damage and brought down the power lines in some areas," the company said in a statement.The spokesman said: "The biggest issue affecting the electricity network has been uprooted trees and other debris blown on to overhead power lines, which has caused damage and brought down the power lines in some areas," the company said in a statement.
"Storm force winds are predicted to remain for most of the day causing hazardous working conditions and hampering the recovery operation.""Storm force winds are predicted to remain for most of the day causing hazardous working conditions and hampering the recovery operation."
Arriva added that five trains had hit small fallen trees on the tracks but there were no other major disruptions to services.Arriva added that five trains had hit small fallen trees on the tracks but there were no other major disruptions to services.
Joanne Sherwood from Natural Resources Wales said more rain had fallen overnight.Joanne Sherwood from Natural Resources Wales said more rain had fallen overnight.
She told BBC Radio Wales: "We're expecting more winds today and our focus for this afternoon is along the coast of west Wales where we expect the wind along with the waves maybe to cause some spray or overtopping.She told BBC Radio Wales: "We're expecting more winds today and our focus for this afternoon is along the coast of west Wales where we expect the wind along with the waves maybe to cause some spray or overtopping.
"So if you're out and about today and you're walking off your Christmas turkey and if you're near the coast take care. If you're driving near the coast please take care and if there are any doubts don't go near it."So if you're out and about today and you're walking off your Christmas turkey and if you're near the coast take care. If you're driving near the coast please take care and if there are any doubts don't go near it.
Most of the west coast of Wales was affected and there could be more flood alerts later in the day.Most of the west coast of Wales was affected and there could be more flood alerts later in the day.
"If you're in any doubt, if you see any flood water, any alerts from a river or waves overtopping please don't go in to it then," said Ms Sherwood."If you're in any doubt, if you see any flood water, any alerts from a river or waves overtopping please don't go in to it then," said Ms Sherwood.
WarningsWarnings
"You don't know what's in there, you don't know how fast its going.""You don't know what's in there, you don't know how fast its going."
The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning of widespread gales affecting Anglesey and part of Gwynedd from 06:00 to 18:00 GMT on Friday.The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning of widespread gales affecting Anglesey and part of Gwynedd from 06:00 to 18:00 GMT on Friday.
It said the worst of the winds were likely to transfer across north west Wales and much of northern England during the day.It said the worst of the winds were likely to transfer across north west Wales and much of northern England during the day.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow "be aware" warning of winds affecting Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Swansea and Wrexham which is valid from 05:00 GMT to 09:00 GMT on Friday.
The worst of the winds should ease on Friday evening but rain is also a problem, according to the Met Office.The worst of the winds should ease on Friday evening but rain is also a problem, according to the Met Office.
'Be vigilant''Be vigilant'
It said up to 20mm of rain was expected across south Wales and there could be as much as 40mm on higher ground.It said up to 20mm of rain was expected across south Wales and there could be as much as 40mm on higher ground.
Mark Craddock, watch manager for the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Holyhead said a Force 9 gale was blowing off Anglesey with winds gusting at 50 mph.Mark Craddock, watch manager for the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Holyhead said a Force 9 gale was blowing off Anglesey with winds gusting at 50 mph.
He told BBC Radio Wales that big ships were sheltering off the east coast of Anglesey to avoid the storm.He told BBC Radio Wales that big ships were sheltering off the east coast of Anglesey to avoid the storm.
"We've had reports yesterday of people still playing on the promenade and beaches so we do urge if people are going to go out, please check weather conditions locally with the coastguard or Met Office, and just be vigilant as you are on the beach. Don't get caught out."We've had reports yesterday of people still playing on the promenade and beaches so we do urge if people are going to go out, please check weather conditions locally with the coastguard or Met Office, and just be vigilant as you are on the beach. Don't get caught out.
"The lifeboat crew and the coastguard teams are all volunteers and you do have to appreciate that if somebody is in trouble they will go at the drop of a hat but they are putting their lives at risk too.""The lifeboat crew and the coastguard teams are all volunteers and you do have to appreciate that if somebody is in trouble they will go at the drop of a hat but they are putting their lives at risk too."
Gareth Roberts, who works for Gwynedd Council and lives in Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula, said they were without power because electricity lines had been brought down in high winds.Gareth Roberts, who works for Gwynedd Council and lives in Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula, said they were without power because electricity lines had been brought down in high winds.
"100mph hour is very scary definitely. Everybody's waking up this morning and peeking out and seeing what damage there is," he told BBC Radio Wales."100mph hour is very scary definitely. Everybody's waking up this morning and peeking out and seeing what damage there is," he told BBC Radio Wales.
He said: "I've been talking with some of the officers this morning who've been out all night clearing the roads. There's quite a few trees down, there's some electricity, telephone poles have snapped.He said: "I've been talking with some of the officers this morning who've been out all night clearing the roads. There's quite a few trees down, there's some electricity, telephone poles have snapped.
"The telephone pole at the end of my road is just hanging there on the wire. There's a few roads here and there have been closed. ""The telephone pole at the end of my road is just hanging there on the wire. There's a few roads here and there have been closed. "
Mr Roberts also advised people in the Gwynedd area to stay indoors.Mr Roberts also advised people in the Gwynedd area to stay indoors.
"There are quite a few slates on the Maes in Caernarfon and so people are really advised to only travel if you have to and keep out of the wind if you can because it's still not safe.""There are quite a few slates on the Maes in Caernarfon and so people are really advised to only travel if you have to and keep out of the wind if you can because it's still not safe."
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