Storm Gerrit brings UK to a grinding halt: Brits trying to get home after Xmas are stranded at rail stations and airports after 70mph gales and rain spark train and plane …

• ** Have YOU been hit by the storm and are you stranded on roads or at stations including King's Cross? Email your stories and pictures to: [email protected] **

By Mark Duell[1]

Published: 14:54, 27 December 2023 | Updated: 16:42, 27 December 2023

Hundreds of motorists were stranded for up to four hours in heavy snow on a major road today and rail operators issued 'do not travel' alerts amid major disruption due to flooding and strong winds as Storm Gerrit swept into the UK with 100mph gusts.

Drivers were at a standstill on the A9 at Dalnaspidal in Perthshire due to blizzard conditions with snowploughs unable to help because they were stuck behind cars.

Highland Council declared a major incident because of 'miles of vehicles' stuck in 'very severe conditions', with agencies now prioritising the most vulnerable drivers.

The same road was also hit by severe flooding 30 miles away at Ballinluig with Police Scotland urging people to avoid the route amid 'challenging weather conditions'.

The Scottish Premiership football match between Rangers and Ross County at Ibrox had to be postponed because the away team were unable to travel to Glasgow.

Motorist Jeremy Bedford said he had been 'stationary southbound on the A9 near Dalwhinney for nearly four hours', asking: 'Should we be planning to spend the night here?' Shaun Dellenty added: 'Huge lines of stationary traffic and severe gales and drifting snow. Not moved for two and a half hours.

Seen one snowplough so far.'

Carlos Rodriguez tweeted: 'A9 in Scotland traffic has been stuck for hours, people broke out the snow shovels to clear out the road themselves.' And X user Blanchy13 said: 'Two hours stuck so far. Two kids asking every two minutes when we can move.'

The Met Office[2] imposed nine warnings until the early hours of tomorrow with the storm also set to bring three inches of rain and eight inches of snow. It comes as:

• LNER, Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry all imposed 'do not travel' warnings;
• British Airways cancelled 18 flights at London Heathrow due to the weather;
• The Port of Dover in Kent warned drivers of three-hour queues this afternoon;
• Wind gusts peaked at 106mph and there were a reported 2,852 power cuts.

Meteorologists also warned of delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges, flooding on roads, possible power cuts and disruption to ferries and planes.

** Have YOU been hit by the storm and are you stranded on roads or at stations including King's Cross? Email your stories and pictures to: [email protected] **

Traffic battles through blizzards on the A9 near Aviemore as Storm Gerrit hits Scotland today

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

Queues on the M25 in Swanley, Kent today as people head home from their Christmas holidays

Drivers at a standstill on the A9 at Dalnaspidal in Perthshire today due to blizzard conditions

Rail passengers face disruption at London Waterloo station today following a track obstruction

A queue of traffic on the A9 near Dalwhinnie where hundreds of cars became stuck today

Wet conditions for drivers on the M40 close to Warwick today as Storm Gerrit hits Britain

Heavy snow on the A9 at Drumochter in the Highlands causes treacherous conditions today

Vehicles stuck in floodwater in Old Kilpatrick, Scotland, today as Storm Gerrit hits Britain

London[3] North Eastern Railway (LNER) revealed today that trains had 'significant delays' across its entire 956-mile network between King's Cross and the Highlands.

Problems for LNER included flooding between Leeds and Harrogate and Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh, plus overhead wire damage north of the border.

It said: 'Due to severe weather customers are advised not to travel today as services are likely to be subject to significant delays and short notice alterations or cancellations.'

Severe weather caused chaos across the network, with nine ScotRail routes facing speed restrictions while Northern and Transport for Wales services were badly hit.

CrossCountry had a 'do not travel warning' in place north of Newcastle; Avanti West Coast said 'do not travel' north of Preston following flooding between Lockerbie and Carlisle which was blocking all lines and also impacting TransPennine Express trains; and there were also issues caused by train staff shortages and track obstructions.

Some 18 British Airways[4] flights were axed at Heathrow[5] Airport today due to air traffic control restrictions - including return domestic trips to Aberdeen, Glasgow[6], Edinburgh, Jersey and Manchester, and to Barcelona, Berlin[7], Madrid and Paris.

And the Port of Dover in Kent said there was a three-hour wait time ahead of French border controls for tourist traffic as of noon today - up from just one hour at 7.30am.

Officials later said that the 'additional processing time today is a result of staff sickness within Police aux Frontieres', adding: 'All teams are working hard to get everyone on their way as quickly as possible.'

Separately, there was major disruption to Thameslink and East Midlands Railway trains between London St Pancras and St Albans due to a signalling system fault[8]; and Southeastern services were badly delayed by over-running engineering works.

Snowploughs are struggling to keep the A9 open at Slochd today as Storm Gerrit hits Scotland

Images of the A9 chaos in the Highlands today taken from Bear Scotland's control cameras

The A9 also faced flooding at Ballinluig as Police Scotland urged motorists to avoid the area

People get close to the waves on the promenade at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear this morning

An abandoned car in a roadside ditch between Wolfhill and Burrelton in Perthshire today

The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland today as Storm Gerrit causes chaos

A tractor with a snow plough makes its way through Allenheads in Northumberland today

A motorist drives through floodwater on the outskirts of Billericay in Essex this morning

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

Avanti West Coast rail passengers at Preston station face major disruption today amid flooding

Storm damage caused by strong winds at Fort William in the Scottish Highlands this morning

Delayed passengers wait for updates at London St Pancras station this afternoon

The Environment Agency issued 94 flood alerts across England as well as two flood warnings - for Gog Brook in Warwick and the Upper River Hull area of East Yorkshire.

Gusts peaked at 106mph over the Cairngorm summit today, with the next highest at 76mph at Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire then 69mph at Stornoway in the Western Isles.

The strongest on mainland England was 44mph at St Bees Head in Cumbria.

And thousands of people in England were without power this morning, reported Sky News which quoted data from PowerOutages.com that put the total at 2,852.

The Met Office has imposed nine warnings today and tomorrow as follows:

• Rain - Wales - Midnight today until 4pm today;
• Rain and wind - Northern Ireland - 2am today until 10am today;
• Wind - Southern England - 3am today until 6pm today;
• Rain - South West Scotland and northern England - 3am today until 6pm today;
• Wind - Northern Scotland - 3am today until 11.59pm today;
• Rain - North West England - 3am today until 6pm today;
• Rain and snow - Northern Scotland - 6am today until 9pm today;
• Wind - Western Wales and North West England - 6pm today until 3am tomorrow;
• Wind and snow - Shetland Islands - 9pm today until 6am tomorrow.

ScotRail said major flooding in parts of the Highlands meant there would be no trains between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh until at least January 3, while it also warned speed restrictions would cause delays on nine routes until 9am tomorrow.

The affected ScotRail routes were between Glasgow Queen Street, Oban or Mallaig; Inverness and Wick; Edinburgh or Aberdeen and Inverness; Montrose and Inverurie; Edinburgh and Perth or Dundee; Edinburgh and Glenrothes with Thornton; Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen or Inverness; Glasgow Central and Wemyss Bay or Ardrossan Harbour or Largs or Prestwick Town; and Glasgow Central and Carlisle.

The Environment Agency issued flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red) across England

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) revealed services are facing 'significant delays' today

Avanti West Coast said 'do not travel' north of Preston following flooding north of Carlisle

Transport for Wales cancelled all trains between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog; imposed a late start-up for services from Shrewsbury to Swansea and Llandrindod; and warned flooding between Hereford and Leominster could cause cancellations or long delays.

UK rail disruption amid Storm Gerrit today

ScotRail: Major flooding means no trains between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh until at least January 3

London North Eastern Railway (LNER): 'Do not travel' warning issuesd as services face 'significant delays' following flooding between Leeds and Harrogate and Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh, plus overhead wire damage north of the border

ScotRail: Speed restrictions on nine these routes until 9am tomorrow: between Glasgow Queen Street, Oban or Mallaig; Inverness and Wick; Edinburgh or Aberdeen and Inverness; Montrose and Inverurie; Edinburgh and Perth or Dundee; Edinburgh and Glenrothes with Thornton; Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen or Inverness; Glasgow Central and Wemyss Bay or Ardrossan Harbour or Largs or Prestwick Town; and Glasgow Central and Carlisle.

Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express: Flooding between Lockerbie and Carlisle is blocking all lines

ScotRail: Tree fell on line and caught fire near Dumbarton East station

Transport for Wales: All trains between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog cancelled; late start-up for services from Shrewsbury to Swansea and Llandrindod; and delays between Hereford and Leominster due to floods

South Western Railway: Disruption through Clapham Junction due to a signalling problem

Southern and South Western Railway: Delays through Havant due to a track obstruction in the Bedhampton area

Southeastern: Disruption between London and Kent stations due to engineering works not being finished on time in the Nunhead area

Thameslink: No trains between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks due to overrunning engineering works

East Midlands Railway and Thameslink: Fault with the signalling system between St Albans and London St Pancras cancelled or delayed trains

CrossCountry: Cancelled services between Nottingham and Cardiff Central due to shortage of train drivers

Advertisement

A tree fell on the line and caught fire near Dumbarton East station, closing the line in Scotland in both directions, while those on Southern and South Western Railway faced delays through Havant in Hampshire due to an 'obstruction' on the track in the Bedhampton area.

Police Scotland said officers in Dundee dealt with a collision on the A90 near Inchture, adding: 'Please slow down and drive to the weather conditions.'

Meanwhile a section of the A82 which runs between Glasgow and Inverness via Fort William was closed due to multiple trees blocking the route in heavy snow.

The M48 Severn Bridge was shut in both directions between junctions one for Aust and two Chepstow due to strong winds, with drivers urged to use the M4 Prince Of Wales Bridge as a diversion.

Traffic Scotland said the A82 at Milton near Glasgow was closed this morning in both directions due to flooding, while Carmarthenshire Roads Policing told motorists that a tree had fallen on the B4308 between Cwmbach and Farriers which had also taken out a power line.

In South Wales, Gwent Police said emergency services were dealing with a crash on Mountain Road in Cefn Golau.

And on the Isle of Wight, Hovertravel said hovercraft services were cancelled this morning 'due to adverse weather'.

There is also disruption on the ferry network in Scotland, with NorthLink services across the Pentland Firth to Orkney axed as a result of the weather.

CalMac ferries are also subject to delays and suspension across the west coast, with those travelling urged to check if their services are operating.

In Hampshire, Forestry England said all facilities were closed at the Alice Holt Forest site today due to high winds, adding: 'We're sorry to ask people not to visit Alice Holt Forest today.'

National Trust properties across the UK were shut due to the high winds including Croome in Worcestershire, Cotehele in Cornwall, Bodnant Garden in Conwy and Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland.

Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: 'Storm Gerrit will run towards western UK on Wednesday and bring with it potential impacts for much of the UK.

'Winds across southern coastal areas of England will be strong, possibly peaking around 70mph on exposed coastlines, but more widely around 50 to 60 mph within the warning area.

'Rain is an additional hazard from Storm Gerrit, with active weather fronts leading to a wet day for many.

'Snow is also likely to cause problems for some northern areas: only briefly for a few upland routes across the Pennines and southern Scotland overnight and early on Wednesday, but more widely to the north of the Central Lowlands later in the day.

The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland today as Storm Gerrit causes chaos

Wet conditions on the M62 motorway near Eggborough in North Yorkshire this morning

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

A woman walks through flooding on the A82 in Dumbarton today amid torrential rain

Rail passengers face disruption at London Waterloo station today following a track obstruction

Information signs at London St Pancras station showing cancelled trains this afternoon

People get close to the waves on the promenade at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear this morning

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

Avanti West Coast rail passengers at Preston station face major disruption today amid flooding

A woman walks with her dog beneath dark clouds as the storm hits Crosby in Merseyside today

People walk on Westminster Bridge in London this morning as strong winds hit Britain

A fallen tree blocks the road on Three Mile Lane in Keele, Staffordshire, this morning

Queues on the M25 in Swanley, Kent today as people head home from their Christmas holidays

A flooded driveway near the East Yorkshire village of Watton today amid Storm Gerrit

A tree fell onto the railway line in the Dumbarton area this morning which then caught fire

The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland today as Storm Gerrit causes chaos

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

Snow on the A82 this morning at Altnafeadh in the Highlands between Glasgow and Inverness

A couple walk in the rain near Haig Eggborough in North Yorkshire this morning

'Here around 10 to possibly 20cm of snow may affect some of the highest routes, this combining with very strong winds to lead to some difficult travel conditions. At lower levels a combination of heavy rain and very strong winds will dominate.'

UK road closures due to Storm Gerrit today

• A90 near Inchture: Officers in Dundee are dealing with a collision, adding: 'Please slow down and drive to the weather conditions.'
• A82 near Inverlochy: Major road running between Glasgow and Inverness via Fort William is closed due to multiple trees blocking the route in heavy snow.
• M48 Severn Bridge: Shut in both directions between junctions one for Aust and two Chepstow due to strong winds, with drivers urged to use the M4 Prince Of Wales Bridge as a diversion
• A82 at Milton: Road near Glasgow is closed in both directions due to flooding
• B4308 between Cwmbach and Farriers: Carmarthenshire Roads Policing says a tree has fallen on the road and also took out a power line
• Mountain Road in Cefn Golau: Gwent Police says emergency services are dealing with a crash

Advertisement

Also today, thousands of airline passengers risked missing flights due to multiple signalling failures causing disruption to trains.

Operator East Midlands Railway said the issue was preventing it from running services between London St Pancras and Luton.

A Thameslink service calling at the airport was delayed by nearly two hours.

Rail services are expected to be disrupted for the rest of today due to the fault between St Pancras and St Albans.

Thameslink issued an alert to passengers which said: 'Please do not attempt travel between Bedford and London Bridge until further notice.

'The earlier disruption caused by multiple signal failures has now reoccurred. Due to the level of disruption, passengers are advised to delay travelling until later.

'If you do decide to travel, you will need to use alternative means on some or all of your journey, and you will need to allow an additional 60 minutes to travel.'

A depot was also affected, causing delays to trains due to operate early morning services.

Speaking about flight disruption at Heathrow today, a British Airways spokesman said: 'As a result of air traffic control restrictions put in place because of Storm Gerrit, we have had to make some adjustments to our schedule today.

'We have apologised to our customers for any disruption to their travel plans and our teams are working hard to get them on their way as quickly as possible.'

In addition, there was disruption on South Western Railway trains through Clapham Junction in South West London due to a separate signalling problem.

Rail passengers also faced a series of further problems that did not appear to be related to the storm.

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

A woman walks through flooding on the A82 in Dumbarton today amid torrential rain

Shoppers walk through the rain in Birmingham city centre today to take a look at the sales

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

Stormy conditions on Tynemouth Longsands beach in Tyne and Wear this morning

People walk on Westminster Bridge in London this morning as strong winds hit Britain

Information signs at London St Pancras station showing cancelled trains this afternoon

The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland today as Storm Gerrit causes chaos

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

A fallen tree blocks the road on Three Mile Lane in Keele, Staffordshire, this morning

Racegoers attempt to shelter from the weather at Chepstow in Monmouthshire today

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

A flooded driveway near the East Yorkshire village of Watton today amid Storm Gerrit

There was disruption due to engineering works not being finished on time in the Nunhead area of South East London - affecting Southeastern services between the capital and Kent, and cancelling Thameslink trains between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks.

Met Office weather warnings for today

• Rain - Wales - Midnight today until 6pm today
• Rain and wind - Northern Ireland - 2am today until 10am today
• Wind - Southern England - 3am today until 6pm today
• Rain - South West Scotland and northern England - 3am today until 6pm today
• Wind - Northern Scotland - 3am today until 11.59pm today
• Rain - North West England - 3am today until 6pm today
• Rain and snow - Northern Scotland - 6am today until 9pm today
• Wind - Western Wales and North West England - 6pm today until 3am tomorrow
• Wind and snow - Shetland Islands - 9pm today until 6am tomorrow

Advertisement

Meanwhile CrossCountry cancelled services between Nottingham and Cardiff Central due to a shortage of train drivers.

It comes on top of pre-planned rail closures including London Paddington which has been shut since Christmas Eve with no Heathrow Express or direct Elizabeth line services.

On the Elizabeth line platforms at Paddington are open for services to and from Abbey Wood and Shenfield.

There is no Elizabeth line between Paddington and Ealing Broadway.

Transport for London (TfL) also has pre-planned part closures on the London Overground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) today.

London Victoria station also has no Southeastern services between until January 2, while Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street and Norwich are being disrupted through the Chelmsford area until New Year's Day.

The Met Office said Gerrit - the seventh named storm of the current UK storm season - was named as a warning to people coming home after the holidays.

Its meteorologist Simon Partridge said: 'Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that.'

A storm is named when it is deemed to have the potential to cause medium or high impacts on the UK and/or Ireland.

Shoppers walk through the rain in Birmingham city centre today to take a look at the sales

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

Information signs at London St Pancras station showing delayed trains this afternoon

Flooding at Tophill Low Nature Reserve in East Yorkshire today amid Storm Gerrit

People walk along the Southbank in London this morning as Storm Gerrit hits Britain

A tree fell onto the railway line in the Dumbarton area this morning which then caught fire

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

Workers try to clear the A82 road from flooding in Dumbarton today amid heavy rain

People walk on Westminster Bridge in London this morning as strong winds hit Britain

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland today as Storm Gerrit causes chaos

Betting stalls struggle with the weather at Chepstow Racecourse in Monmouthshire today

The Met Office and Met Eireann launched the scheme in 2015 to name storms as part of efforts to raise awareness of extreme weather events.

Dover ferry passengers face three-hour delays

Ferry passengers are facing three-hour delays at the Port of Dover today.

People arriving for cross-Channel sailings are being forced to wait that long to pass through French border controls, the Kent port said.

It added: 'We are working hard to get you on your way as quickly as possible.'

Those who miss booked ferries are being put onto the next sailing with space available.

The port is facing high demand as thousands of people make post-Christmas trips.

Travellers are being advised to check their ferry operator's website or social media accounts for travel updates.

Enhanced passport checks by French border officials Police Aux Frontieres (PAF) following the UK's withdrawal from the EU have significantly increased processing times.

Port bosses have taken a series of measures aimed at minimising queues, but they often build up during peak periods.

Advertisement

Mr Partridge said wet and windy weather will cover 'pretty much the whole of the UK', with significant snowfall in parts of Scotland.

A yellow rain and snow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm across much of Scotland today.

'There are wind warnings out for the south of England, across the English Channel coast,' Mr Partridge added.

'But we also have wind warnings in force for parts of western Wales, north-west England, Northern Ireland, northern Scotland and the Northern Isles.'

He said only the central section of the UK does not have a wind warning.

Wind warning areas can expect gusts of 50 to 60mph, with up to 70mph on high ground and exposed coasts. Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely, the Met Office said.

'In terms of rain, we have rain warnings out for the whole of Northern Ireland, western Wales, north-west England, and then there's a combined sort of rain and snow warning for Scotland,' Mr Partridge added.

Rain in the warning areas is forecast to be between 40 to 60mm, with the potential for 70 to 90mm in the western hills of Wales and the western side of the Pennines.

There is a chance of power cuts, as well as a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded.

Anywhere above 200 metres (650ft) in Scotland and the Northern Isles is likely to see some snow, he added.

Network Rail Scotland warned passengers speed restrictions would be in place today and to check for cancellations.

ScotRail customer operations director Phil Campbell said: 'Unfortunately, we expect disruption to our services due to the adverse weather, and customers can expect some changes to their journeys.

Police Scotland said officers in Dundee dealt with a collision on the A90 near Inchture today

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

Shoppers wait outside a Zara store in Birmingham city centre in the rain today during the sales

A tree fell onto the railway line in the Dumbarton area this morning which then caught fire

A wet start to the day in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, today as Storm Gerrit hits the UK

Passengers at London King's Cross station today amid major disruption to LNER services

A Traffic Scotland image of snow on the A85 road in Glen Ogle, Stirlingshire, this morning

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

A lorry travels along the snowy A68 at Soutra this morning, south east of Edinburgh

Snow this morning on the A9 at Drumochter, a mountain pass road in the Scottish Highlands

The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire today

'We will be working closely with our colleagues at Network Rail Scotland to ensure we are able to keep people moving as much as possible, but customers should also expect that their journeys will take longer than usual, and there could be some cancellations. '

People affected by Storm Gerrit are urged to contact insurers

People and businesses affected by damage from Storm Gerrit should contact their insurer as soon as possible for help and advice, said the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

The ABI said the priority for insurers will be to support customers affected by the storm to recover as quickly as possible.

ABI spokesperson Malcolm Tarling said: 'Whenever and wherever bad weather strikes, insurers are ready to help their customers. Storm Gerrit could be a nasty, expensive and inconvenient experience for some, and the priority for insurers will be to help affected homeowners, businesses and drivers recover as soon as possible.

If you suffer damage to your property, contact your insurer as soon as you can for help and advice.'

Anyone needing to travel should regularly check and follow transport advice, leave as much extra time as they can for the journey and drive with care - for example, in heavy rain and wind allow sufficient space from the vehicle in front, the ABI said.

Comprehensive motor insurance policies will cover storm damage to vehicles.

If someone's home is affected by storm damage, they should contact their insurer as soon as possible. Many insurers have 24-hour emergency helplines. If necessary, people may arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop any damage getting worse, but the ABI said they should speak to their insurer first.

If someone has to arrange emergency repairs themselves, they should tell their insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of their claim.

The ABI said people should not be in a rush to throw away damaged items, unless they are a danger to health, as these may be able to be repaired or restored.

Insurers will be able to advise their customers on this.

Advertisement

The operator added: 'We're asking anyone with garden equipment such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don't blow on to the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.'

The RAC has warned drivers not to underestimate the dangers of high winds.

Spokesperson Simon Williams said: 'While high-sided vehicles are most at risk of being blown off course, car drivers can also be affected when they pass lorries on the motorway and are suddenly hit by the full force of the wind on the other side.

'Keeping both hands on the wheel at all times is the best advice, along with watching other vehicles very carefully so as not to get caught out by any unexpected changes in course.

'Getting to motorways and major roads may also be more difficult.

Drivers should reduce their speeds and be on the look-out for fallen branches, and even trees, along with other debris.'

The RNLI urged those visiting the coast to exercise extreme caution, particularly along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.

Gareth Morrison, RNLI water safety partner, said: 'The RNLI advises staying a safe distance away from the water and cliff edges as the conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea.

It is not worth risking your life.'

Stein Connelly from Transport Scotland said: 'The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for large parts of the country.

'We're seeing rain across south-west Scotland, rain and wind across the central belt, and also some snow across northern Scotland.

'This type of weather isn't unusual for this time of year, but yellow warnings do mean the potential for significant travel disruption and that's what we're seeing today across the road and rail network with ferry services also impacted.

'We have well-established plans with partners to respond to these conditions which are currently being progressed.

'Our operating companies are working hard in adverse conditions to remove fallen trees and clear roads of snow currently.'

He urged people to plan ahead and to drive to conditions.

He advised drivers to check the Traffic Scotland website for problems on trunk roads and those using public transport to check with their operators.

Last week, people travelling for Christmas were among those affected as Storm Pia lashed parts of the UK in the countdown to the festive season.

Winds of more than 80mph battered northern parts of the UK, with gusts of 81mph recorded at Brizlee Wood near Alnwick, Northumberland, and at Baltasound on Shetland, with 70mph gusts reported elsewhere in the North East of England.

** Have YOU been hit by the storm and are you stranded on roads or at stations including King's Cross? Email your stories and pictures to: [email protected] **

References

1. ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ British Airways (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Heathrow (www.dailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ Glasgow (www.dailymail.co.uk)
7. ^ Berlin (www.dailymail.co.uk)
8. ^ major disruption to Thameslink and East Midlands Railway trains between London St Pancras and St Albans due to a signalling system fault (www.dailymail.co.uk)