Storm Darragh latest: Man dies as tree falls onto van while driving amid UK weather warnings

A man has died during Storm Darragh after a tree fell onto his van in Lancashire, as winds reaching more than 90mph have left thousands without power across Wales and the west of England [1]. The man, in his 40s, was driving his Citroen vehicle on the A59 at Longton, near Preston, at about 9am on Saturday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Lancashire Police said.

Across the country, trees were brought crashing down and flights were cancelled amid wind gusts of up to 93mph recorded overnight [2] in Capel Curig in North Wales. It came as almost 400,000 residents have been left without power in Ireland after the country was battered by the storm. The Energy Networks Association also said around 86,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales were without power.

The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed [3] as Darragh's high winds strike, with 110mph winds expected at the top of Mount Snowdon. Flights are in disarray across the UK, with hundreds of cancellations and some extreme diversions [4] as planes abort landings at Heathrow and others are diverted to Germany.

Key Points

Man dies in Lancashire as tree falls onto van while driving
Met Office extends yellow wind warning for the whole of Sunday
Storm Darragh brings travel chaos to UK on rail, air and sea amid weather warnings
Merseyside derby cancelled due to storm
Millions have been warned to stay indoors as 93mph winds recorded in Wales
Mapped: Where will Storm Darragh hit?

Early warning system may have saved Brits from harm - meteorologist

14:59 , Barney Davis With one Brit killed so far in Storm Darragh a meteorologist claimed more could have seen harm if the UK didn't have such accurate forecasts.

Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, meteorologist and head of the School of Mathematical Physical and Computational Sciences at the University of Reading, said: "Storm Darragh was well forecast and combined with the clearly communicated warnings seems to have provided the public with the information they needed to to make good decisions to avoid harm. "It has been good to see public authorities like the Welsh FA and Premier League taking sensible action to prevent the need for people to travel and put themselves in danger. "A key part of climate adaptation for the UK and countries around the world is having access to high-quality weather forecasts of extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and more severe due to the warming climate.

"This storm is a reminder that the UK is very fortunate to have one of the most effective public weather services in the world. This should spur us on to help deliver on the UN's commitment to develop early warnings for all, and provide similar life-saving warnings for people wherever they live in the world, whether in Lilongwe or Llandudno."

(Getty Images)

Somerset businesses surprised how many customers still venturing out in fatal storm

14:55 , Barney Davis Small businesses near the Bristol Channel in Somerset said tiles had flown off their buildings and they had faced delivery issues.

Eleanor Sedgwick, 23, a front-of-house supervisor at Scarlett's in Clevedon, said the cafe did not open on Saturday morning because it was "too big of a risk". She told the PA news agency: "The years that I've worked here, I've never had to close because of the weather, apart from when it snowed." Ms Sedgwick said four tiles fell off their roof but she felt the business had "got off quite lucky" compared with previous storms.

She added: "We're very fortunate because we are the first sort of wall (the storm) hit, so it's scary but I'm glad that everyone's happy and safe." Ben England, 47, manager of the Tiffin cafe on the same beachfront, said: "Last night we put all the (outside) chairs under wraps and tried to make it as secure as possible. "Some of our deliveries didn't make it through from Bristol, but I think we should be OK.

I cancelled probably 80% of our staff that were coming in today, so it's literally just the skeleton crew." Both Ms Sedgwick and Mr England said they were surprised at the number of customers venturing out.

(Harry Stedman/PA Wire)

Major incident has been declared in Wales

14:33 , Barney Davis Dyfed-Powys Police said it was continuing to experience high volumes of calls about fallen trees and poor driving conditions.

Superintendent Chris Neve said: "I have this morning declared a major incident for the counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, which means that together with our partners, we can call on the resources we need to respond to the challenges brought by Storm Darragh. "I'd like to reassure the public that at this time, Dyfed-Powys Police is still able to respond to priority calls for service. "We have robust plans in place to respond to Storm Darragh, and we continue to work extremely closely with partner agencies to do so through local resilience arrangements and close working on the ground.

"The safety of the public remains our top priority and I am urging everyone to take the warnings that have been issued seriously. "I'd like to thank our communities for their support at this time, and once again ask that you avoid unnecessary travel and follow all official advice to stay safe."

A fallen tree blocking a road in Pontypridd, Wales (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA Wire)

Met Office forecast for more wind and rain

14:09 , Barney Davis The Met Office may have downgraded the earlier red alert but the latest forecasts shows Storm Darragh will continues to bring wet and very windy weather.

Man dies in Lancashire as tree falls onto van while driving

13:36 , Jabed Ahmed

A man has died during Storm Darragh after a tree fell onto his van in Lancashire. The man, in his 40s, was driving his Citroen vehicle on the A59 at Longton, near Preston, at about 9am on Saturday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Sgt Matt Davidson, from Lancashire Police's serious collision investigation unit, said: "Very sadly this incident has resulted in the death of a man and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time. "An investigation is ongoing, and I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened or has any dashcam or mobile phone footage to please get in touch."

Brave Storm Darragh watchers line harbour as 10-foot waves crash against wall

13:30 , Barney Davis Footage from Porthcawl [5], South Wales [6], shows people lined up close to the harbour edge to catch a glimpse of the storm on Saturday (7 December).

Porthcawl is covered by a Met Office red warning for wind [7], which covers parts of Wales and the South West of England, including Cardiff, Bristol [8] and Devon [9].

Brave Storm Darragh watchers line harbour as 10-foot waves crash against wall [10]

Bus crashes into house during high winds in Northern Ireland

12:59 , Barney Davis An airport transfer bus is pictured after leaving the road and crashing into a house in Templepatrick during high winds on December 7, 2024 in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland. Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm of this season and is expected to bring gusts of wind up to 80mph and heavy rain through the weekend.

(Getty Images)

Storm Darragh brings travel chaos to UK on rail, air and sea amid weather warnings

12:34 , Barney Davis

Trees have been blown on to tracks and station roofs dismantled by Storm Darragh's heavy winds sparking mass cancellations across the rail network. Hundreds of flights across the country have been diverted or cancelled [11], with dozens of ferry crossings on the Irish Sea and in the Western Isle of Scotland also cancelled. Simon Calder reports the key problem areas [12] travellers should be aware of:

Storm Darragh brings travel chaos to UK on rail, air and sea - what you need to know [13]

Plane struggles to land at Heathrow Airport as Storm Darragh hits UK with wind speeds reaching 90mph

12:30 , Barney Davis

This is the moment a plane struggles to land at Heathrow Airport [14] as Storm Darragh hits the UK with wind speeds reaching 90mph. The footage, captured by Big Jet TV on Saturday (7 December), shows the aircraft [15] battling the winds as it sways from side to side, before a bumping landing on the runway. Several British Airways [16] flights to and from Heathrow, Paris [17], the United States [18] and the Netherlands have already been cancelled.

Plane struggles to land at Heathrow Airport as Storm Darragh hits UK [19]

Falling trees destroy parked cars across Penarth, south Wales

12:25 , Barney Davis

(REUTERS)

Train station roof blown onto tracks in Wiltshire

12:15 , Barney Davis

Great Western Railway has warned passengers of "significant delays" as part of the roof of Westbury station - was blown off onto the tracks. Many Great Western Railway lines are closed including Cardiff to Swansea and on to Carmarthen for the rest of the day, Plymouth to Penzance at least until lunchtime and all the GWR branch lines in Devon and Cornwall. GWR has also issued a Do Not Travel notice for Sunday - but that is because of an expected shortage of train crew rather than bad weather.

Anyone with a ticket for this weekend can use it on Monday

Met Office extends yellow wind warning for the whole of Sunday

12:00 , Barney Davis Yellow wind warnings will be in place across much of the UK, including London and the South East, on Sunday. The Met Office says you can expect to see:

A slight chance of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs
It is likely that some roads and bridges could close, with impacts from falling trees
There is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
There is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties
There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris
There is likely to be longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected

Surfer spotted riding huge waves off Welsh coast

11:43 , Barney Davis

A surfer has been caught on camera catching an enormous wave at Porthcawl, south Wales during Storm Darragh. Winds in other parts of Wales topped 80mph, while gusts of up to 77mph were recorded in Northern Ireland and south-west England, the forecaster said.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Storm Darragh makes landfall in Ireland as 90mph winds batter seafront

11:20 , Barney Davis

Red warning downgraded to amber

11:16 , Barney Davis A rare red warning covering parts of Wales and south-west England on Saturday has expired at 11am.

But the Met Office downgrading the region to an amber alert said a period of very strong northerly or northwesterly winds is likely to remain during Saturday as Storm Darragh moves from west to east. Gusts of 70 to 80 mph are likely around exposed coasts and headlands, where some very large waves are likely, whilst gusts of 60 to 70 mph are likely inland. The strongest winds will ease from the west through the afternoon.

A yellow warning for wind remains in effect until 6am on Sunday morning.

Stunning shot of waves crashing into Moher cliffs

11:12 , Barney Davis Photographer Elaine Farrell captured stunning shots at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland.

Storm Darragh has brought travel chaos to Scotland

11:02 , Barney Davis The train line between Ayr and Girvan was shut after a large tree fell onto the tracks, while snow gates were closed on roads in the north-east of Scotland.

An amber wind warning is in place for parts of Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire until 9pm on Saturday. The Energy Networks Association reported 86,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales were without power. Scotrail said services on the line between Girvan and Ayr were disrupted by the tree on the tracks, with Network Rail sending a chainsaw team to the site.

There have been snow gate closures on the A93 and A939 roads, while the southbound A1 was restricted at Eyemouth due to a fallen tree. CalMac also warned of possible disruptions to ferry sailings on the west coast.

More images coming in showing devastation of 90mph winds in Burnham-on-Sea

10:56 , Barney Davis

(EPA)

(EPA)

(EPA)

(REUTERS)

Cardiff locals count damage of Storm Darragh

10:48 , Barney Davis A Cardiff resident described a "superb effort" from a council that cleared a tree that fell during Storm Darragh, breaking windows and damaging the wall around a property.

Stuart Cox, 64, told the PA news agency that an approximately 50ft mature tree on Cathedral Road in the Welsh capital fell into his next door neighbour's garden in the early hours of Saturday. "It broke one window two doors down and destroyed next door's gate. The only damage to ours was the front wall was forced sideways, making the wall unstable and unable to shut the gate," the accountant said.

"The council teams moved to us, after clearing other trees, around 5.30am and were all done by 8am. Superb effort."

Latest images emerging of havoc wreaked by Storm Darragh

10:27 , Barney Davis

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Train cancellations across the Great Western Railway network

10:15 , Barney Davis Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, has been at London Paddington station since early today.

He reports: "Here at London Paddington, things have taken a turn for the worse since I got here at 6am. Many Great Western Railway lines are closed including Cardiff to Swansea and on to Carmarthen for the rest of the day, Plymouth to Penzance at least until lunchtime and all the GWR branch lines in Devon and Cornwall. "Trains from Bristol are arriving up to 45 minutes late due to speed restrictions, which is triggering cancellations in the opposite direction.

The train firm is now advising customers to change their plans if possible this weekend, and warning that fallen trees and other debris may also impact services. "GWR has also issued a Do Not Travel notice for Sunday - but that is because of an expected shortage of train crew rather than bad weather. Anyone with a ticket for this weekend can use it on Monday."

Passengers wait in Paddington as numerous services are delayed (Simon Calder)

Air chaos with hundreds of cancellations and diversions

10:00 , Barney Davis

Flights are in disarray across the UK, with hundreds of cancellations and some extreme diversions. Passengers due to be arriving at Manchester airport from Abu Dhabi on Etihad spend one hour flying around in circles waiting to land - and eventually diverted to Frankfurt in Germany. The Boeing 777 is now expected to fly to Manchester at lunchtime.

British Airways has made 70 short-haul domestic and European cancellations at London Heathrow, including multiple flights to and from Edinburgh, Jersey and Milan. Belfast City has had at least 30 arrivals and departures cancelled to and from airports across Britain, including Cardiff, London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. At Belfast International the only cancellation so far is to and from Bristol.

At Bristol the early morning Ryanair arrival from Venice was diverted to London Stansted, and at least two dozen easyJet flights are grounded, including to Barcelona, Porto and Geneva. The airline is telling passengers: "Following guidance from the UK Government to avoid travel within the Bristol area during the morning of 7 December, regrettable we've been unable to operate your flight today."

A plane takes off at Leeds Bradford Airport during Storm Darragh (Danny Lawson/PA) (PA Wire)

More sporting events to be cancelled after Merseyside derby called off

09:57 , Barney Davis The Merseyside derby between Everton [20] and Liverpool [21] has been postponed as Storm Darragh is set to batter the UK [22].

Everton were set to host their city rivals [23] at Goodison Park [24] in the Premier League [25] for the final time in the 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday, with their long-awaited new stadium [26]at Bramley Moore Dock close to completion and likely to be ready for start of next season.

Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool called off as Storm Darragh batters UK [27]

Ferries cancelled across Irish Sea and in the Western Isles of Scotland

09:45 , Simon Calder On the Irish Sea, all sailings on P&O Ferries between Cairnryan and Larne are cancelled today. Stena Line between Cairnryan and Belfast is cancelled until early evening.

No Holyhead-Dublin or Fishguard-Rosslare ferries will operate all day on Stena Line. It's a similar picture on Irish Ferries between Pembroke and Rosslare. Cancellations on Caledonian MacBrayne ferries serving the Western Isles of Scotland are affecting Arran, Islay, Lewis, Mull and other islands.

Many CalMac ferries are cancelled all day today.

(Fergus Sweeney/PA Wire)

Aborted landings at Heathrow spotted as Big Jet TV returns for Storm Darragh

09:41 , Barney Davis Several shaky landings have been captured on camera as pilots attempt to touchdown in Heathrow amid Storm Darragh. Big Jet TV, which regularly films livestreams from Heathrow, has captured several "go-arounds", in which an aircraft trying to land on the runway aborts its attempt, instead flying back around the airport for another attempt.

Jerry Dyer, who runs the channel, has been frequently heard shouting "bosh" as the aircraft touch down, praising the pilots' skills.

Trees sent crashing down in high winds in Somerset

09:23 , Barney Davis Huge trees were sent crashing on top of houses in Burnham-on-Sea as residents woke up to observe the damage wreaked by Storm Darragh overnight. Trees fell on Rectory Road in the coastal town as the National Grid says around 4,684 people have lost power in Somerset.

Nearly 110mph winds expected on summit of Mount Snowden

09:10 , Barney Davis

Mountain climbers may want to take the day off with wind speeds of nearly 110mph expected on the top of Mount Snowdon. The Met Office predicts 105mph into the evening on the Snowdon Summit as the UK braces for the impact of Storm Darragh. Gusts of 93mph have already been recorded overnight in Capel Curig in North Wales, with 92mph in Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula.

Winds in other parts of Wales topped 80mph, while gusts of up to 77mph were recorded in Northern Ireland and south-west England, the forecaster said.

Storm chasers document destruction across Devon

09:00 , Barney Davis UK weather chasers have filmed themselves driving in dangerous conditions as trees fall down and huge waves crash into coastal areas across the south west. The Met Office issued the red weather warning - the most serious type - on Friday for wind, meaning dangerous weather is expected and people are urged to take action to keep themselves and others safe.

The warning, which has led to the cancellation of events including Christmas attractions, is in place from 3am to 11am on Saturday. The Met Office warned of "damaging winds" with gusts of 90mph possible over the coasts and hills of West and South Wales. Forecasters say the strongest winds will begin to ease from late morning.

The Merseyside derby is off due to the impact of Storm Darragh

08:50 , Barney Davis

Saturday's Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park has been postponed. Merseyside Police have warned against any non-essential travel in the region on Saturday, with an amber weather alert in place.

Power knocked out for thousands as Storm Darragh strikes

08:40 , Barney Davis Thousands of people across Northern Ireland, England and Wales were left without power as they braced for the storm's impact.

As of 5am, National Grid reported more than 12,600 premises had lost power in the Midlands and south-west and more than 20,000 homes had been disconnected in Wales. A note on the Northern Ireland Electricity Network's website said the authority was unable to provide estimated restoration times. "Due to the number of faults we are currently experiencing on the network, we are unable to provide an estimated restoration time for your electricity supply at this time," it read.

"We are working to restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible."

Business Secretary describes the storm as a "challenging situation".

08:38 , Barney Davis Around three million homes have received an emergency alert on their mobile phones as Storm Darragh hits the UK, Jonathan Reynolds said. Speaking to Sky News, the Business Secretary described the storm as a "challenging situation".

He added: "About three million homes will have had the emergency alert system to their mobile phone. I would just encourage anyone who has had that to follow the advice." National Grid is responding to the 20,000 homes without power, Mr Reynolds said, adding staff "will be on standby for any further challenges throughout the rest of the day".

He added: "Where you can, stay inside, don't put yourself at risk, and just follow the advice at all times."

Met Office offers satellite view of Storm Darragh

08:37 , Barney Davis The Met Office has offered a satellite view of Storm Darragh as it warned millions of people to stay indoors with their rare red alert. The red alert lasts until 11am today with people on the Welsh coast told to expect:

Danger to life due to flying debris and falling trees
Large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes
Power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage
Damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down

Weather enthusiast catches moment Storm Darragh strikes in timelapse

08:25 , Barney Davis

A man living in Irlam in the north west captured the moment Storm Darragh changed the wind direction as it made landfall in England this morning. KD Bradshaw, living in Irlam, near Manchester told The Independent: "I'm going to be staying indoors today. The wind is not too bad at the moment but it is expected to get worse.

"Fortunately I'm outside the amber warning... for the moment."

Millions have been warned to stay indoors as 93mph winds recorded in Wales

08:20 , Barney Davis Millions have been warned to stay indoors, thousands are without power and trains have been cancelled as the Government's "risk to life" alert brought on by Storm Darragh came into force. The emergency alert came into effect at 1am on Saturday for people covered by the Met Office's rare red warning for wind in parts of Wales and south-west England.

It was the largest use of the warning system yet, with the alert urging residents to avoid driving and to "stay indoors if you can". The Met Office confirmed to the PA news agency wind gusts of up to 93mph had been recorded overnight in Capel Curig in North Wales and Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula.

(Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Liverpool fans advised to 'remain alert' before match on Saturday

07:00 , Alex Croft Liverpool FC has advised its fans to "remain alert" and "take extra care" before their away Merseyside derby fixture at Everton's Goodison Park.

The club said in a statement: "Supporters attending Saturday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park are advised to allow extra time for travel and remain alert to Met Office weather warnings. "An amber severe wind warning has been issued by the Met Office for Merseyside from 1am GMT on Saturday, with wind gusts of 60mph to 70mph likely. The warning for wind is expected to remain in place until 6am on Sunday.

"Given the weather warning, fans are advised to allow extra time for their journey and take extra care. "Supporters are also advised to keep a close eye on travel and weather guidance in their area to assist with travel planning for the Premier League fixture (12.30pm kick-off)."

ICYMI: Tornadoes possible, says storm research body

06:29 , Alex Croft Tornadoes could strike the UK as Storm Darragh prepares to wreak havoc, a storm research body has said.

"Wind gusts to around 70-75mph could accompany the stronger cores, and one or tornadoes are possible too," said the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro), a privatrely-supported and volunteer-led research body which specialises in severe convective weather in Britain and Ireland. The entirety of Ireland, Wales, and most of England - barring parts of the north and east - are expected to be in affected areas, according to a map published by Torro in its update on Friday afternoon.

In pictures: Dublin prepares for Storm Darragh earlier on Friday

06:02 , Alex Croft

A person takes shelter under an umbrella as they cross the Sean O'Casey Bridge in Dublin's city centre (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

A person walks a dog on Clontarf Promenade in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

A person on a slipway in Clontarf, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Report: All football in Wales cancelled as Storm Darragh to batter country

05:31 , Alex Croft As Storm Darragh batters the UK [28], the Football Association of Wales [29] (FAW [30]) has announced that all football matches scheduled for Saturday 7 December have been postponed.

The Met Office has issued its most extreme red weather warning, with Storm Darragh bringing life-threatening 90mph winds in Wales and parts of southwestern England.[31][32][33] The red alert is the first of its kind to be issued since Storm Isha in January, with forecasters warning of significant disruption, including damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down. And the FAW have followed advice from the Met Office to call off all Saturday football in the country, with Friday and Sunday matches set to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Read the full report:

All football in Wales cancelled as Storm Darragh to batter country [34]

Longleat Safari Park closed on Saturday due to Storm Darragh

05:01 , Alex Croft Longleat Safari Park will be closed to visitors on Saturay as Storm Darragh batters the country. The Swindon Advertiser quoted a spokesperson for the Wiltshire safari park as saying: "We are sorry but due to the weather forecast, we have taken the decision to close on Saturday to ensure you are kept safe ...

We are currently planning to re-open on Sunday. If that changes we will update our website and social media." The park is home to 120 species, including aardvarks, elephants, crocodiles, lions and cheetahs.

Storm Darragh: How to prepare as Met Office warns strong winds set to batter UK

04:02 , Alex Croft

A rare red warning [35] for high winds has been issued by the Met Office [36] as Storm Darragh hits the UK, which warns of significant disruption and a "danger to life". Parts of Wales and southwest England could see gusts of wind reaching 90mph between 3am to 11am on Saturday [37], while an amber warning is in place across most of the rest of the UK. Flying debris and falling trees could pose a risk to life, while large waves and beach material could be thrown onto coastal roads and seafronts.[38]

There could also be damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down, as well as power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage. Read the full report from Holly Evans:

Storm Darragh: How to prepare as strong winds set to batter UK [39]

Highly unusual red weather warning should be heeded, RAC warns

03:01 , Alex Croft RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson said: "A red weather warning is highly unusual and should be heeded as it can indicate a risk to life.

"With parts of Wales and the South West set to be battered by the wind between 3am and 11am on Saturday, we strongly advise drivers to postpone their journeys if they can. "Anyone who must drive should stick to major roads, reduce their speed significantly, always keep a firm grip of the steering wheel and be on high alert for debris in the road. "Exposed rural and coastal routes will be particularly treacherous.

Drivers in these areas should be wary of any high-sided vehicles as they are at risk of being buffeted off course or, worse still, blown over. "We also suggest parking well away from large trees due to the danger of falling branches or whole trees being uprooted."

Watch: Rare red warning issued as UK braces for Storm Darragh

02:00 , Alex Croft

Christmas market cancelled due to dangerous winds

01:29 , Alex Croft A christmas market in Chiswick has been cancelled as a result of the dangerous winds amid Storm Darragh.

The christmas market was set to offer handmade gifts, jewellery, christmas carols sung by a performing arts choir, and story telling by Santa. But the kids booked in with the big red man will have to reschedule their appointments after heavy winds prompted organisers to call off the festive event. Xanthe Arvanitakis, director of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, told Chiswick Calendar: "It's really disappointing, but what can we do?

We've been told winds of 40mph are expected, which just makes it too dangerous to open the park. "We have lost that income, but also the stallholders will have lost the opportunity to earn money. We are doing everything we can, we hope the public will understand."

When in the past has the Met Office issued red weather warnings?

01:01 , Alex Croft

It is rare for the Met Office to issue red weather warnings. Here are some recent examples: Heatwave, July 2022

A heatwave in mid-July 2022 saw temperatures reach unprecedented levels in many parts of the UK, passing 40C for the first time on July 19 and peaking at 40.3C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The conditions prompted the Met Office to issue its first ever red warning for extreme heat, covering much of central and southern England, while the government declared a national emergency. Storm Eunice, February 2022

Two red warnings for wind were issued for Storm Eunice, covering areas of south-west and south-east England. It was the most severe and damaging storm to affect England and Wales since 2014, with winds of more than 81mph in exposed coastal locations and a gust of 122mph recorded on the Needles off the coast of the Isle of Wight, setting a new England gust speed record. Storm Arwen, November 2021

A red warning for wind was issued for Storm Arwen, running down the eastern edge of the UK from Aberdeen to Newcastle. The storm saw wind speeds of more than 69mph in many areas of Scotland and northern England, with a gust of 98mph recorded at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland. More than one million homes lost power, three people died when they were hit by falling trees, and rail passengers in Aberdeenshire were stuck on a train overnight.

Storm Dennis, February 2020 A red warning for rain was issued for parts of South Wales during storm Dennis. The storm brought very strong winds, but the worst of the disruption was caused by exceptionally heavy rain.

Claims of possible 'mini-tornado' in Staffordshire

00:29 , Alex Croft

Residents in Staffordshire have reported powerful winds believed by some to have been a tornado, described as "like a bomb going off". Staffordshire Police said it had reports of 25 trees having been blown down after residents in Clayton and Kidsgrove reported a short blast of "deafening" winds which began and ended without warning. StokeonTrentLive quoted one reader as saying: "A mini tornado just came through Clayton, it ripped our grass up, ripped the roof tiles off our neighbour's roof.

There's fence panels everywhere, I've never seen anything like it, the sound was deafening. "We don't even know if our roof is ok yet. All the neighbours were in the street assessing the damage.

A friend said they could hear the intense sound from far away near Westbury Park - like a bomb going off. It lasted about 15 seconds." Responding to reports of a possible tornado, one Facebook user in Kidsgrove reported power outages and felled trees, adding: "It passed right through our cul-de-sac!

Completely out of the blue the wind just went wild, it was roaring through our house and the trees were bending. "It was so fast too. We opened the door to take a better look and struggled to close it.

Then as quick as it had started, it just stopped. It didn't slow down, it literally just stopped." Another said: "I'm in Kidsgrove and there are trees down everywhere, main roads closed because of debris, roofs blown off and I have never heard wind like that in my life, it was so powerful and our furniture on the decking was banging on the patio doors so loudly."

And a third person wrote: "I'm in kidsgrove and the wind was brutal for just a few minutes and stopped. Our garden has been savaged. Not just fence panels down but a breeze block wall collapsed."

Red warning: Damaging winds could tear roofs from homes and bring down power lines

00:01 , Alex Croft

The red weather warning - in force from 3am until 11am on Saturday - is due to damaging winds expected to cause significant disruption. Here is what the Met Office says those living in affected areas should expect:

Danger to life due to flying debris and falling trees
Large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes
Power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage
Damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down
Roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights

'Put Big Light On' festival postponed due to Storm Darragh

Friday 6 December 2024 23:45 , Alex Croft The 'Put Big Light On' festival in Bolton has been postponed due to the forecast of winds up to 80mph and rain during Storm Darragh.

The lights festival was due to begin last evening and was scheduled to run until Sunday. However, it now stands postponed indefinitely. "We have not taken the decision to postpone lightly, however the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved is always our top priority," the festival authorities said in a statement.

"We apologise to the public, performers and traders for the inconvenience this has caused."

What is causing Storm Darragh?

Friday 6 December 2024 23:29 , Alex Croft Storm Darragh follows a period of "unsettled and squally conditions". An area of low pressure will bring strong winds and heavy rain to much of the UK, with the heaviest rainfall expected to be focussed in the northern and western parts of the warning area.

Some snow will hit northern areas above 200m, the forecaster said. Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly on Thursday described Storm Darragh as an "evolving system".

How to stay safe in strong wind

Friday 6 December 2024 23:15 , Alex Croft The Met Office has issued its top tips for staying safe in areas with strong wind over the weekend.

Here's what to do if Storm Darragh brings gusty winds to your area, according to the Met:

Protect your property: "Don't risk injury to others or damage to your property [40]. Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them in high winds," the forecaster says.
Plan routes and pack essentials for any journeys: The forecaster stresses that "windy weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous."
Drive slowly and cautiously in strong wind: "Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users," says the Met Office.
Take when near coast: Check forecasts and tides and be aware of large waves, the Met Office says. Take care walking near cliffs.
Stay indoors as much as possible: "Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury.
Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees," the Met Office says.

What will days following Storm Darragh look like?

Friday 6 December 2024 23:01 , Alex Croft Storm Darragh will bring a turbulent weekend of weather to British shores.

But from Sunday, the weather should settle and be replaced with some drier and brighter weather. The Met Office's forecast for Sunday through to Tuesday reads: "Turning colder on Sunday and Monday with showers and blustery winds gradually easing. Drier and brighter later Monday and into Tuesday as high pressure build with some mist and fog."

Four flights cancelled from Cardiff Airport

Friday 6 December 2024 22:45 , Alex Croft

Four flights due to depart from Cardiff Airport on Saturday have been cancelled . Much of Cardiff will be covered by a red weather warning for wind until 11am on Saturday, with the Met Office warning of gusts of 90mph or more possible in south Wales. The cancelled flights were due to fly to Enontekio, Ivalo, Amsterdam and Belfast City.

16 flights cancelled from Belfast City Airport

Friday 6 December 2024 22:32 , Alex Croft

More than a dozen flights from Belfast City Airport on Saturday have been cancelled as Northern Ireland braces itself for an amber weather warning. All of the cancelled flights were scheduled to fly to other cities in the UK, bar one going to Amsterdam. Dublin Airport has also seen 21 flight departures cancelled on Saturday.

It includes flights to London Heathrow, Washington, Manchester, Paris, Newcastle and Edinburgh, among others.

In pictures: Dublin prepares for Storm Darragh earlier on Friday

Friday 6 December 2024 22:20 , Alex Croft

A person takes shelter under an umbrella as they cross the Sean O'Casey Bridge in Dublin's city centre (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

A person walks a dog on Clontarf Promenade in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

A person on a slipway in Clontarf, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

'Change plans accordingly' if in red alert area, suggests Met Office forecaster

Friday 6 December 2024 22:03 , Alex Croft Change your plans accordingly if in an area subject to red or amber warnings, a Met Office forecaster has advised. Meteorologist Alex Deakin said: "The main advice, particularly if you're in the amber or red area, is just think about what your plans are for this weekend and change them accordingly.

"But even if you're in the yellow warning area there are going to be issues with lots of people out and about, it's a Saturday before Christmas, so again just think about what your plans are, make sure you're across the warnings. They're being tweaked all the time."

Graphic shows how Storm Darragh will unfold on Saturday

Friday 6 December 2024 21:47 , Alex Croft

Multiple A-roads to close, says Traffic Wales

Friday 6 December 2024 21:00 , Alex Croft Traffic Wales will close parts of the A55, A5 and A483 roads, Traffic Wales says.

The body post on X: "A55 Britannia Bridge will close to all vehicles due to extremely high winds 07/12 from 2:00 until winds have eased at approx.

12:00."

In a later post, it said: "Based on current forecasts the A5 Ceiriog & A483 Dee Viaducts will close between 07/12 06:00 and approximately 21:00 because of severe winds."

References

^ Wales and the west of England (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ amid wind gusts of up to 93mph recorded overnight (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed (uk.sports.yahoo.com)
^ with hundreds of cancellations and some extreme diversions (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ Porthcawl (www.independent.co.uk)
^ South Wales (www.independent.co.uk)
^ wind (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Bristol (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Devon (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Brave Storm Darragh watchers line harbour as 10-foot waves crash against wall (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ Hundreds of flights across the country have been diverted or cancelled (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ the key problem areas (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ Storm Darragh brings travel chaos to UK on rail, air and sea - what you need to know (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ Heathrow Airport (www.independent.co.uk)
^ aircraft (www.independent.co.uk)
^ British Airways (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Paris (www.independent.co.uk)
^ United States (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Plane struggles to land at Heathrow Airport as Storm Darragh hits UK (uk.news.yahoo.com)
^ Everton (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Liverpool (www.independent.co.uk)
^ set to batter the UK (www.independent.co.uk)
^ host their city rivals (uk.sports.yahoo.com)
^ Goodison Park (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Premier League (www.independent.co.uk)
^ their long-awaited new stadium (uk.sports.yahoo.com)
^ Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool called off as Storm Darragh batters UK (uk.sports.yahoo.com)
^ Storm Darragh batters the UK (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Wales (www.independent.co.uk)
^ FAW (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Met Office (www.independent.co.uk)
^ extreme red weather warning (www.independent.co.uk)
^ in Wales and parts of southwestern England. (www.independent.co.uk)
^ All football in Wales cancelled as Storm Darragh to batter country (uk.sports.yahoo.com)
^ warning (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Met Office (www.independent.co.uk)
^ gusts of wind reaching 90mph between 3am to 11am on Saturday (www.independent.co.uk)
^ large waves and beach material could be thrown onto coastal roads and seafronts. (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Storm Darragh: How to prepare as strong winds set to batter UK (www.independent.co.uk)
^ your property (www.metoffice.gov.uk)