Storm Gerrit live updates as Met Office warns of more rain, storms and lightning after 88mph gales and flooding
Storm Gerrit has wreaked havoc across Wales with one flood warning and 33 flood alerts in place across Wales, main roads were closed with trees down and speed restrictions on the M4 because of high winds on Thursday. Winds of 88mph were recorded in Wales and the blustery weather is set to continue. The Met Office said that parts of the UK were hit by a “supercell thunderstorm” that had a “strong rotating” updraft that could have caused tornadoes.
There was thunder with frequent lightning in parts of the country, which some people described as the “loudest” they had ever heard, while another person posted on social media that it “sounded like the end of the world, and the power went out temporarily.” Did you experience the storm? Please send any video and pictures to [email protected] or DM WalesOnline on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram or X.
There was also warning of more heavy rain and lightning moving west from Cardigan Bay on Thursday. The Cardiff Harbour Authority closed the Mermaid Quay Board Walk on Wednesday night in the interests of public safety because of “high river levels discharging into the area causing overtopping”. The walk was damaged but is due to re-open on Thursday morning.
The M48 Severn Crossing re-opened just after 9am as winds dropped but closed again just before 11.45am as winds picked up again. One lane of the Prince of Wales bridge is also closed in both directions to allow for emergency barrier repairs after a crash on Wednesday. There was also speed restriction due to strong winds on M4 in both directions from junction 37 Pyle/Porthcawl to junction 38 at Margam.
Fallen trees also closed the A469 Caerphilly mountain road at Thornhill in Cardiff in both directions and the A484 at Cenarth in Ceredigion. The Thornhill road reopened on Thursday morning, but the Ceredigion road remains closed. The flood warning issued by Natural Resources Wales is on the River Towy between Llandeilo and Abergwili.
(Image: BBC Weather)
The blustery and wet weather is set to continue on Thursday with the Met Office forecast for Wales saying: “Unsettled with frequent heavy showers, merging at times to give longer spells of rain and perhaps the risk of hail mixed with some brighter interludes.
Remaining windy especially over the hills and coasts. Maximum temperature 12 ?C. “Blustery showers continuing through this evening, easing for a time overnight to allow some clear spells to develop.
Staying windy, though mild for the time of year. Minimum temperature 6 ?C.” In other parts of the UK, Heathrow Airport cancelled 18 flights due to air traffic control restrictions, understood to be return routes from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey and Manchester, and to Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid and Paris.
Storm Gerrit also brought plenty of rain with the gauge at the Great Langdale Valley in the Lake District recording 80mm – nearly half the usual 178mm monthly rainfall for December, the Met Office said.