Storm Darragh leaves 200,000 homes without power as gale-force winds damage buildings, fell trees and tear down power lines

By EMILY JANE DAVIES[1] and AIDAN RADNEDGE[2] and LIZ HULL[3] and JACK HARDY[4]

Published: 17:57, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 18:18, 8 December 2024

Storm Darragh has left 200,000 homes without power as gale-force winds continue to damage buildings, topple trees and tear down power lines[5].

Some residents have been forced to resort to lighting candles in the 'pitch black' as they have been hit by power cuts for more than 24 hours now.

The Energy Networks Association said about 200,000 customers remained without power as of 9am on Sunday - but 88 per cent have now been reconnected.

In England, 15,000 remained without power early Sunday, and 58,000 properties were without power in Wales.[6]

Hair-raising videos show just what havoc has been wreaked on Britain by the storm, with football games called off and precarious landings on airport runways[7].

In Wales, a rugby club's roof was ripped off, narrowly missing bystanders but wrecking parked cars.

Footage posted by Briton Ferry RFC saw three large pieces of roofing torn from the clubhouse as a member stood outside. The pieces hit nearby parked cars - causing the alarms to go off - and members gathered outside to see the damage.

There were more than 50 flood warnings and more than 130 flood alerts in England this morning, with nine warnings and 20 alerts in Wales.[8]

Two men were killed yesterday by falling trees hitting their vehicles. A man in his 40s died after a tree fell onto his car in Lancashire, who was tonight named as Paul Fiddler, a member of the coaching staff at non-league Lytham Town FC.

Paying tribute, the football club said in a statement: 'A well-loved coach, football player, gaffer but most of all a true friend.

Paul, thank you for everything mate.'

Later on, another man - a cab driver - was killed when a tree fell and hit his car in Erdington in the West Midlands. The car's horn sounded continuously as police battled to rescue the gravely injured man from the vehicle.

Nine cows under a hedge were also killed when a live power cable was blown down on top of them in Cornwall.

HEREFORD: A flood warden pushes a boat in floodwater in Greyfriars Avenue

HEREFORD: The intense rainfall has led to playgrounds being left underwater

BIRMINGHAM: A crash which killed a man in Birmingham on Saturday occurred on Sutton Road in the Erdington area

Paul Fiddler, who was in his 40s and an assistant manager at a non-league football team, was pronounced dead at the scene on the A59 in Lancashire on Saturday after his car was hit

The Met Office warned that gusts of up to 70mph have created difficult driving conditions and disrupted public transport[9].

There is a fresh yellow wind warning for the whole of England and Wales which came into force at 6am and is in place until 6pm on Sunday.[10]

A woman near Rackenford, Devon, said she went for more than 24 hours without power from 12.30pm on Saturday and the family were without water other than one tap, forcing them to collect rainwater to flush the toilets.

Theresa White, 55, said: 'It was pitch black so we played a few card games and things like that, and tried to get in touch [with our energy provider].'

'We had no internet, and all our phone signals weren't working, so we were basically cut off and we do live in a wooded area,' she said, adding that they were too scared to leave the house on Saturday in case a tree fell on them.

'We did have a massive tree come down yesterday afternoon, but luckily it fell into the rest of the woodland and not onto our buildings, so we just sat tight.'

Ms White's family went to a relative's home on Sunday and Ms White's husband purchased new work clothes, because the family was unable to do any washing due to the power cut.

Ms White rang their energy provider EDF, but the customer service person 'couldn't comprehend'[11] that their meter is from the 1960s and is not a smart meter, she said.

'She eventually went away and spoke to (National Grid) apparently and she says, 'now some people have got electric and some people haven't, and we should have electric by Monday at 8pm',' she added.

Ms White's family ultimately had their electricity restored at around 3pm on Sunday.

Deb Knowles, 43 said she was lighting candles and using a torch in her house on Saturday, and decided to take her unwell children to her mother's house on Sunday.

'My mum is in remission [from cancer] and catching this flu or chest infection would be dangerous for her but I have no choice, the kids need warmth, hot water and food,' she said.

WALES: Storm Darragh's tornado-like winds ripped off a rugby club's roof

HEREFORD: Floodwater in Greyfriars Avenue in Hereford, Herefordshire

CORNWALL: There were eye-catching scenes as Storm Darragh hit the sea and coastline

PENARTH: A view shows a damaged car, after Storm Darragh hit the country in Penarth, Wales

She added: 'I've been pretty much trying all night, all this morning, all day, to call the 105 number to report the outage, because on the website, it's saying that there is no known outage, so I don't know if they know that we have nothing.'

'I feel very annoyed and very frustrated,' she said when asked how she feels about not being able to get through to the National Grid.

'I've spoken to the neighbours. We're all in the same sort of situation.'

As Ms Knowles has been unable to log the outage, she does not have an estimate for when the power will return.

'I can't believe that in a first-world country, the only way to log an emergency is through one telephone number.

It's quite ridiculous,' she added.

'I mean, there's hundreds of thousands of people in the same particular predicament as me. I'm not the only person, so I understand that there's a lot of people getting through, but there should be more ways to log that there's no power than one telephone number.'

Many people have been sharing footage online of the chaotic conditions across the UK.

Among the footage captured was a pilot bringing a wobbling British Airways[12] plane precariously into land, amid blustery conditions, at Heathrow[13] airport in west London.

Storm Darragh was also seen hammering Cornwall's coastline and whipping up spectacular sea foam - while kiosks were knocked over on the pier at Llandudno in North Wales.

Other scenes caught on film included a tree toppling into a car in South Wales and the popular promenade in seaside resort Blackpool being battered.

KENSINGTON: Tree surgeons were called on Sunday morning after this one was felled by Storm Darragh in South Kensington, west London

HEREFORD: A flooded playground after Storm Darragh hit the country

HEREFORD: A flood warden wades in the water on a road near a warning sign

HEREFORD: Flooding next to houses and Hereford Cathedral

That hazard warning came into force at 1am on Saturday for those covered by the Met Office[14]'s rare red warning for high winds - and alerts remain in place today.

Residents of the worst-hit areas in Northern Ireland[15] as well as the western coasts of Wales and England were urged to stay indoors amid fears that flying debris and falling trees could lead to fatalities.

Darragh also wreaked havoc with traffic as the Prince of Wales Bridge over the River Severn and the nearby Severn Bridge were closed, while many rail services and flights have been disrupted due to strong winds.

Sports events across the UK and Ireland were thrown into disarray, including a Premier League[16] match between Liverpool and Everton which was axed over safety fears.

And fans who did attend games going ahead shared footage of the haphazard conditions, with players struggling to take set-pieces as winds clustered around them.

There were more travel warnings issued on Sunday morning, with Great Western Railway announcing would be no services between Plymouth and Penzance and on all Cornish branch lines until at least 4pm.

The firm also suggested told of changes to services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, including no stops at Chippenham in Wiltshire.

Tree surgeons were called to a street in upmarket South Kensington, west London, this morning after a tree plunged to the ground and blocked the road.

HEREFORD: A woman walks next to flooding on a road after Storm Darragh hit the country

LLANDUDNO: Kiosks were seen knocked over on the pier in North Wales as storms swept in

BIRMINGHAM: A man has died after his car was hit by a falling tree in the Birmingham district of Erdington during strong Storm Darragh - emergency services are pictured at the scene

TYNEMOUTH: Rough seas are seen near the Tynemouth pier lighthouse on the River Tyne, as Storm Darragh hits the UK and Ireland

Dozens of flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts are in place today

The Met Office forecast more difficult conditions ahead throughout Sunday

After the second confirmed death, West Midlands Police said they were called to Silver Birch Road in the Birmingham[17] district of Erdington, just after 3pm yesterday, following reports that a tree had fallen and hit a car as a result of the storm conditions.

Sgt Benjamin Parsons, of the force's Roads Policing Unit, said: 'Our thoughts are with the man's family at this time, and his next of kin have been informed.

'A report will be passed onto the coroner. Anyone who saw what happened or who may have dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to please get in touch.'

This comes after another man, in his 40s, died earlier on Saturday morning after a tree fell on his van in Lancashire.

The man was driving his Citroen vehicle on the A59 at Longton, near Preston, at about 9am, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Det Sgt Matt Davidson, from Lancashire Police[18]'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.'

Meanwhile, a tree has blocked the Gatwick[19] Express line and the National Rail has warned passengers to not even bother travelling between London[20] St Pancras and Luton 'until further notice'.

HEREFORD: Flooding next to houses' gardens after Storm Darragh

WESTMINISTER: More bad weather is expected today as Storm Darragh batters Britain - people are pictured taking precautions under downpours

KENSINGTON: Workers carried out their work on Sunday morning as weather warnings were issued across the UK

BURNHAM-ON-SEA: A tree narrowly misses a house after being blown over in Storm Darragh on Oxford Street in Burnham-on-Sea

Storm name linked to history, celebrity and now... calamity

It's the name currently linked with high winds and destruction, but Darragh is not just a title for a weather system.

It derives from the Old Irish word for oak, and is a common name in Ireland.

There, 195 newborns were called Darragh last year, making it the 26th most popular name for boys.

Famous people called Darragh include ITV's The Chase's Darragh Ennis and writer and children's TV star Darragh Mortell.

A popular variation of the name is Dara - with probably the best-known example being the comedian and TV presenter Dara O Briain.

In a 7th century epic from Irish mythology, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, it appears in its original form of Daire.

Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm this winter, following Storm Ashley, which struck in October, and Storms Bert and Conall, which blew in during late November.

Storm names are assigned by the Met Office and its Irish counterpart, Met Eireann. The first was Storm Abigail, which coated Scotland in snow and left more than 20,000 properties without power in November 2015.

But calling this weekend's bad weather Storm Darragh would probably lead to puzzled looks in Germany - because there it is known as Storm Xaveria.

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GWR also told passengers to avoid routes between Cardiff and Swansea until 12noon at the earliest, while following up the cancellation of Bath Christmas Market yesterday by urging people not to reach it by rail today.

Northern Ireland was exposed to wind gusts of up to 80mph overnight[21], while a fresh yellow Met Office wind warning came into force across much of England and Wales at 6am.

More widely there are likely to be gusts of 35-45mph inland, even reaching 70mph around coasts during the morning.

It means that further travel disruption and power cuts are likely until 6pm, the Met Office said.

Storm Darragh brought gusts of 93mph to some parts of the country on Saturday, with millions warned to stay indoors, tens of thousands left without power and trains cancelled.

National Rail said disruption was expected through Tottenham Hale in north London.

National Highways said the M48 at Severn Bridge was closed in both directions between J1 and J2 until at least midday.

Wightlink said the 8am car ferry sailing from Portsmouth and 9am from Fishbourne were cancelled, along with the 7.15am and 8.15am Fastcat services from Portsmouth Harbour and the 7.45am and 8.45am services from Ryde Pier Head.

The Met Office said heavy rain was expected to persist in central and eastern parts of England throughout Sunday, with 20-25mm forecast to fall across much of the country.

As much as 60mm could fall over high ground of the Cheviots, Pennines and North York Moors.

In Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, a large tree was uprooted and blown on to houses, while just along the coast at Weston-super-Mare huge waves crashed against the sea defences, threatening sightseers.

At Birmingham Airport, pilots struggled to land and take off in 60mph crosswinds, and Cardiff Airport was forced to close its runway for most of the morning.

WALES: High winds ripped the roof off Pentre Baptist Church in the tiny settlement of Mochdre

LLANDUDNO: Llandudno's pier took a battering with kiosks ripped from their positions and thrown across the pier against another kiosk

NORTHERN IRELAND: An Airport bus has crashed into a property on the Ballyrobin Road near Antrim in Northern Ireland

Several British Airways flights to and from Heathrow, Paris, the United States and the Netherlands were also cancelled.

Meanwhile, tourist attraction Llandudno Pier in North Wales was battered by winds of 93mph, which destroyed parts of the historic structure.

Paul Williams, general manager of the pier, said it may cost GBP250,000 to repair the damage, adding: 'Overnight, one of the kiosks, one of the original ones, which is roughly 148 years old, was ripped up.

'It's the first time in its history that it has been tipped to one side.

'The ice cream stand at the end of the pier has been ripped up and it went into the sea, and there are about 1,000 pieces washed up on the other side of the bay. The roof has come off the toilet and there's real fear that we'll potentially lose the bar and cafe down the end as well.

'We may have to look at the pier not reopening for a considerable amount of time.'

Energy Networks Association said 259,000 customers across England, Scotland and Wales were without power as of Saturday evening, adding that 80 per cent of homes affected by the storm had been reconnected.

Millions of Britons were sent emergency alerts to their mobile phones in what was the largest use of the warning system yet, urging residents to avoid driving and to 'stay indoors if you can'.

PENARTH: A person stands next to a car damaged by a fallen tree, after Storm Darragh hit the country in Penarth, Wales

The Met Office issued yellow and amber warnings across Britain on Saturday

NORTHERN IRELAND: A huge tree blocks the slip road to the M1 to Belfast in Ballycare

BLACKPOOL: People run in front of The Blackpool Tower after Storm Darragh hit the country

SWANSEA: Waves crash into the Mumbles headland near Swansea as Storm Darragh makes its presence felt across the UK

LLANDUDNO: Huts on Llandudno pier - a major tourist attraction - were damaged in the storm

BURNHAM-ON-SEA: Contractors work to clear a tree that has fallen on properties following last night's storm winds in Burnham-on-Sea

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the storm as a 'challenging situation', adding: 'About 3million 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.'

On Sunday morning there were 65 flood warnings and 149 flood alerts in place in England, plus 25 flood warnings in Wales, with the Environment Agency warning people not to drive through flood water and to avoid from swollen rivers and coastal paths.

It added: 'Heavy rain may cause flash flooding.

It's important you know how to prepare.'

The Met Office's red weather warning for wind - its most serious - has caused the cancellation of events this weekend, including Christmas attractions, and the closure of all royal parks.

References

1. ^ EMILY JANE DAVIES (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ AIDAN RADNEDGE (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ LIZ HULL (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ JACK HARDY (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ damage buildings, topple trees and tear down power lines (www.dailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ remained without power early Sunday, and 58,000 properties were without power in Wales. (www.dailymail.co.uk)
7. ^ wreaked on Britain by the storm, with football games called off and precarious landings on airport runways (www.dailymail.co.uk)
8. ^ were more than 50 flood warnings and more than 130 flood alerts in England this morning, with nine warnings and 20 alerts in Wales. (www.dailymail.co.uk)
9. ^ created difficult driving conditions and disrupted public transport (www.dailymail.co.uk)
10. ^ is a fresh yellow wind warning for the whole of England and Wales which came into force at 6am and is in place until 6pm on Sunday. (www.dailymail.co.uk)
11. ^ comprehend' (www.dailymail.co.uk)
12. ^ British Airways (www.dailymail.co.uk)
13. ^ Heathrow (www.dailymail.co.uk)
14. ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
15. ^ Northern Ireland (www.dailymail.co.uk)
16. ^ Premier League (www.dailymail.co.uk)
17. ^ Birmingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
18. ^ Lancashire Police (www.dailymail.co.uk)
19. ^ Gatwick (www.dailymail.co.uk)
20. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
21. ^ exposed to wind gusts of up to 80mph overnight (www.dailymail.co.uk)