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UK storms: Homes left without power, and travel disrupted | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tens of thousands of homes are without power and commuters are facing some travel disruption after hurricane-force winds battered the UK on Wednesday. | |
Forecasters are predicting some respite on Thursday from stormy weather but another Atlantic low could bring gales of more than 80mph from Friday onwards. | |
Sixteen severe flood warnings remain for Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset - all already hit by severe flooding. | |
Train services in parts of the UK are cancelled and some roads are closed. | |
Prime Minister David Cameron will chair the first meeting of a new Cabinet committee on flood recovery later. | |
It comes after road and rail travel was affected by high winds, which closed major routes and caused delays and cancellations throughout Wednesday. | |
A man, thought to be in his 70s, died in a suspected electrocution while attempting to move a tree brought down by power cables in Wiltshire. | |
Gusts of up to 112mph were recorded. However a rare "red warning" for wind is no longer in place. | |
Power out | Power out |
The Energy Networks Association, representing UK energy companies, said about 130,000 homes and businesses remained without power late on Wednesday night. | |
That figure includes: | |
Energy companies said engineers had worked through the night to try to restore power. | |
Travel problems include: | Travel problems include: |
Sunny spells | |
The Met Office has issued various yellow "be aware" rain, wind, ice and snow warnings for many parts of the UK. | |
BBC weather forecaster Jay Wynne said Thursday would be a better day than Wednesday, although it would still be quite blustery with a mixture of rain, sleet and some snow in northern England. | |
While it would be quite choppy on some coasts, there would be spells of sunshine in areas including the south, he said. | |
But things would go down hill again on Friday with strong gales and the possibility of significant snowfall in Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern England. | |
As well as 16 severe flood warnings, the Environment Agency has also issued about 400 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. | As well as 16 severe flood warnings, the Environment Agency has also issued about 400 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. |
Surrey Fire and Rescue said it had rescued 250 people from the floods on Wednesday. A total of 850 people have been rescued in the county since Sunday. | |
Hundreds of members of the armed forces are continuing to help those affected by the flooding and 2,000 remain ready to help. | |
Environment Agency programme director Toby Willison said a number of rivers in south-east and south-west England, including parts of the Thames, were at their highest recorded levels. | |
"This is an exceptional event, it was the highest rainfall in January since 1776 and we think it is likely December, January and February will be the highest for 250 years," he added. | "This is an exceptional event, it was the highest rainfall in January since 1776 and we think it is likely December, January and February will be the highest for 250 years," he added. |
Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (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 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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