Storm Bert’s trail of carnage: Urgent search underway for ‘dogwalker swept away by floodwater’ after killer storm leaves three people dead as weather map reveals where 16 …

Published: 18:44, 23 November 2024 | Updated: 00:23, 24 November 2024

Storm Bert has left a trail of carnage in its wake, as an urgent search is carried out over fears another could have been killed by the deadly weather.

It comes after a day of chaos, where three motorists were left dead amid today's tempest after two fatal crashes and a car was crushed by a falling tree.

Another driver escaped tragedy after another tree crushed his vehicle, while ten people including five children have been rescued from a landslide in Wales.

In Capel Curig, in Snowdonia, the area was struck by a stunning 79.8mm of rain water, while in Kinbrace, in the Highlands, it reached lows of -12.4C. Tens of thousands of homes have been without power, with 4,000 homes affected in the Midlands, south-west England and South Wales and 27,000 customers affected in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

Now police are reported to be searching for a dogwalker they fear could have been swept away by floodwaters in North Wales.

The man went missing earlier today around the river Conwy in the villiage of Trefriw. Fields around the river often flood in heavy rain, sparking fears he may have been swept up in the swollen waters.

The search was launched shortly after 4pm when the alarm was raised by a family member.

The fire service rushed water rescue specialist teams to the scene, where they were joined by police, the ambulance service and a Coastguard helicopter, the Daily Post [3] reports.

The dog has been safely located, but the man remains missing despite hours of searching. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team told the outlet that the rain, melting ice and snow had combined with a high tide to make raise water levels.

Maps showing the route of the helicopter, which was fitted with thermal imaging cameras, can see it tracking the river close to the Welsh town.

Eight yellow weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office , covering the entiriety of Wales, the south west of England, the south coast and much of the north west of England and Scotland

Maps showing the route of the helicopter, which was fitted with thermal imaging cameras, can see it tracking the river close to the Welsh town

Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward after a 34-year-old man died in Shipley, West Yorkshire when his blue Renault Captur smashed into a wall

The accident happened just before 1am this morning, with the unknown driver being given emergency treatment but tragically being pronounced dead at the scene

Police remain in the area today to continue investigations into the death of the man

Pictured: A fallen power line in Stokesley, Teesside, as Storm Bert hits the UK

A bus had run off the road on the A70 near Lugar in East Ayrshire as Storm Bert bites

Traffic at a standstill in bad weather conditions on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire

Walkers and sightseers brave the coast in the town of Dawlish, Devon, as Storm Bert hits with huge waves

A train departs from Waverley Station amidst snowfall during Storm Bert, in Edinburgh, Scotland

A spokesperson for the coastguard said: 'HM Coastguard was tasked to assist North Wales Police with a search for a missing runner at Llanrwst today, 23 November at around 6:15pm.

'The Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon was sent alongside Ogwen Mountain Rescue Team. The helicopter concluded the search and has now been stood down.'

Eight yellow weather warnings have been issued by the Met Offic [4]e, covering the entirety of Wales, the south west of England, the south coast and much of the north west of England and Scotland.

Airports across the UK have shut and football matches have been cancelled following 16-inch snowfall.

And in the Yorkshire town of Todmorden, flood sirens released a terrifying wail as they echoed up the Calder Valley.

Winds measuring 70mph are battering coastal areas and melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding.

Gusts of up to 105mph were recorded at Cairngorm Summit in Moray at 10am, Met Office data showed, while temperatures plummeted to -11C in the Highlands.

But forecasters are warning that the worst is still to come - with experts saying that the deadly storm is still developing.

Eight yellow weather warnings have been put in place by the Met Office for tomorrow, up from six today.[5]

A yellow warning for wind is in place until 9pm on Sunday, warning of dangerous coastal conditions and disruption across the entirety of the south coast of England and much of Wales.

Motorists get a push as the battle the strong winds and heavy snow showers in the Cumbrian village of Nenthead this morning

A lone vehicle is driven along the snow covered M9 motorway near Stirling

People help to push a vehicle uphill in the snow at Stirling Castle, Scotland

Two busses are stuck in the snow during Storm Bert, along Frederick Street in Edinburgh

Firefighters work to pump water away from flooded residential streets near Moat Park in Dundonald on the outskirts of Belfast

And in Leeds the weather is no match for revellers - who headed out on the infamous Otley Run desbite the wind and rain

Racegoers in Ascot also battled the savage winds - struggling to hang onto their fancy outfits as they attended the plush event

A snow plough and gritter clears snow on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire

An AA vehicle during heavy snowfall at Bannockburn, near Stirling

This includes fears of power cuts, travel cancellations, damage to buildings and a danger to life both from large waves and flying debris.

A rain warning is also in place for the same region, predicting possibilities of potentially-fatal fast flowing and deep floodwater.

Yellow warnings for rain have also been instated for the entirety of Wales, all of Northern Ireland [6], much of the north of England and sections of Scotland.

Earlier, a 34-year-old man in Shipley, West Yorkshire, was killed when his blue Renault Capture smashed into a wall in icy conditions.

Then a man in his 60s died when a tree fell onto his black Mercedes E350. He was confirmed deceased at the scene.

Northamptonshire Police have also reported that a man died in a two-car collision on the A45 near Flore at around 8.20am this morning.

Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in north Wales, following a landslide.

A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said they are all being assessed by ambulance services away from the scene 'somewhere warm'.

James Green nearly died when a tree fell on his car because of storm Bert

James Green car which was hit by a falling tree in St Botophls Road in Worthing

Winds measuring 70mph are battering coastal areas and melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding

Traffic at a standstill in bad weather conditions on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire

Narly 27,000 customers have had their power supply disrupted across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire

A view of the M90 motorway clear of traffic, as the Queensferry Crossing is closed due to the risk of falling ice

A further landslide has been reported in the area but it is understood no one has been affected.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued a series of flood warnings and alerts across the country, as bridges are shut and roads closed.

Over the weekend, Wales is expected to face up to 75mm of rain widely, with 150mm possible in some areas.

The strongest gust recorded so far by the Met Office is 82mph at Capel Curig in Conwy, north Wales, with winds of 70mph expected around coastal areas.

The Met Office has warned heavy rain is likely to cause travel disruption and flooding, particularly across south Wales.

NRW has issued flood warnings - where flooding is expected, and immediate action is required - on eight stretches of river.

It has also issued alerts - where flooding is possible - for more than 40 areas across Wales.

The storm has been described as a multi-hazard event with snow being followed by warm air moving northwards - bringing high winds.

A look at the snow covering the runways of Newcastle International Airport

Holidaymakers at Newcastle International Airport said the runway was 'decimated' by snow as Storm Bert batters the country

Amber warnings have come into place bringing a 'potential risk to life and property'

Holidaymakers at Newcastle and Yorkshire airport have reported seven hour plus delays due to heavy snow

People are seen sledging at Antony Gormley's Angel of the North

Forecasters have warned that the worst of Storm Bert is yet to come

People walking in the snow at Stirling Castle in Scotland

Ross Easton, of Energy Networks Association (ENA) - which represents the UK's power network operators, said: 'Forecasters are describing this as a 'multi-hazard event' with the worst of the weather yet to arrive, and so our members have extra engineers and contact centre teams available, and control rooms are monitoring the storm closely as it develops.'

Savage winds across the UK have seen trees dangerously falling across roads. One man James Green narrowly escaped death when a tree fell on his car in Worthing.

The M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire was closed because of strong winds, and the A66 in County Durham was closed both ways between the A67 and A645 due to snow.

Traffic has been at a standstill on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

There was also chaos at Newcastle airport as some incoming flights were diverted to Belfast and Edinburgh while the airport's snow team tried to minimise disruption.

Holidaymakers shared images showing snow-covered runways at both Newcastle and Yorkshire airport, with some even claiming there are 'seven hours plus delays'.

Six weather warnings remain in place.

Further south, heavy showers are hitting England.

A man looks up at the statue of King Robert the Bruce during heavy snowfall at Bannockburn, near Stirling

National Highways issued a 'severe weather alert' for snow affecting Yorkshire and north-east England.

Pictured: Dore train station in Sheffield covered in snow

Storm Bert hits the coastal town of Dawlish, Devon as the sea batters the coast as walkers and sightseers come out to see the spectacle and get engulfed in the surf

A trains makes it's way along the track towards Exeter as the sea batters the coastal defenses in Dawlish, Kent

The Met Office forecasts heavy rain developing overnight and into Sunday for south-west and southern England, stretching from Oxford to Truro.

The yellow warning is in place from 6am Saturday until 11.45pm on Sunday and up to 70mm of rain could fall during this time.

There is a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see up to six inches of rainfall, the national weather service said.

Forecasters have also predicted as much as 40cm of snow on high grounds in Scotland as central areas remain in an amber alert for snow and ice until 5pm today.

A wind warning covers coastal areas of southern England and Wales from 9am on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday.

Avanti West Coast cancelled its service between Edinburgh and Carlisle all day on Saturday with the next direct service from Carlisle not scheduled to run until Sunday afternoon.

A number of matches in the EFL have also been called off due to heavy snow and rain battering the pitches, including Bradford against Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood against MK Dons.

The Championship football match between Blackburn Rovers at Portsmouth at Ewood Park, Lancashire, was postponed due to torrential rain flooding the pitch.

A group of girls enjoy the night out in fancy dress - refusing to let the freezing cold affect their fun

Others laughed as they headed out on their night out on the Otley Run in the northern city

But groups of pals all laughed as they vowed to make the most of the night - whatever the weather

Racegoers were struggling to hang onto their umbrellas at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire

Storm Bert wreaked havoc at the plush event as it destroyed umbrellas and carefully-prepared hairdos

Some attendees laughed through the chaotic weather, making the most of the day of racing

Others continued to forge ahead with fancy outfits and hats as they attended the historic event

People wait in the snow for the Christmas Market to open during Storm Bert, along Princes Street in Edinburgh

A man clears snow at the M9 motorway services near Stirling as Storm Bert batters the country

Rail companies are urging passengers to avoid travelling to certain areas and some warned of reduced services.

Pictured: a cyclist in Sheffield battles snow

Weather warnings and 16 flood alerts have come into effect across the UK

Tree surgeons clear up a fallen tree on Wimbledon Common south-west London this morning as the Met office issue yellow weather warnings for Storm Bert

Many fans had already begun their journeys up and down the country to see their teams play today.

National Highways issued a 'severe weather alert' for snow affecting Yorkshire and north-east England between 5am and 3pm on Saturday.

An amber alert for heavy snow and ice is in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in areas across Scotland, where 10-20cm is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20-40cm (16 inches) on hills above 400 metres.

The weather warning covers parts of Angus, Perth [7] and Kinross, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire and some of the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.

It comes after a weather map revealed where Storm Bert is set to batter the UK [8] this weekend.

Perth and Kinross Council cancelled its annual Perth Christmas [9] lights switch-on event over safety and travel concerns.

Ferry operator CalMac - which serves the west coast of Scotland - has cancelled several sailings on Saturday with disruption expected on many other services.