Storm Bram LIVE: Met Office issue further warnings amid ‘danger to life’ alerts
The UK is being battered by high winds and heavy rain as Storm Bram[1] has left motorways closed and flights, ferries and train services with cancelled, while tens of thousands have been left without power. Fierce winds have caused traffic chaos on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge with lights at "risk of collapse" and lanes closed, while the M48 Severn Bridge has been shut. There are 37 "act now" flood warnings in place from the Environment Agency across England while two amber "danger to life" Met Office[2] wind warnings remain in place over wide areas of Scotland from now until 3am on Wednesday and in Northern Ireland until 8pm today.
19:47Steven WhiteCoach full of kids stranded on major road
At least one bus has been stranded on a key road in Northern Ireland today due to Storm Bram.
The vehicle became stuck on Portaferry Road in County Down. The drama emerged after several parents expressed their concern on social media as they asked Translink for more information about the delay to the service. They claimed their children had contacted them saying they were stuck on the notorious stretch of road out of Newtownards and next to Strangford Lough, according to BelfastLive[3].
The Translink representative apologised to the parent and informed them to get the school children to ask the driver for clarification on the situation.
19:26KEY EVENTMultiple lorries overturn on major motorway
A number of lorries have overturned on a major motorway as commuters continue to battle Storm Bram. A section of the M74 - a key route in Scotland - has been closed as emergency crews were called out to the scene. The incident is between Junction 11 at the Poniel Interchange and Junction 13 at the Abington Interchange.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said that at least three lorries had overturned. Read the full story here[4].
Chaos on the M74 (Facebook/Iain Blackstock Daily Record)18:49KEY EVENTRyanair flight forced to make emergency landing
A Ryanair flight had to make emergency landing in Liverpool it was forced to turn back because it was cauht up in Storm Bram. Flight FR441 departed Liverpool John Lennon Airport for Dublin shortly after 1.05pm on Tuesday, December 9.
According to passengers, the aircraft was around "10 minutes away" from landing in Dublin when the crew announced it would have to divert due to worsening conditions, reports Liverpool Echo[5]. Les Wright, 61, who was travelling for business, said that he had seen forecasts predicting blustery weather but received no warning the flight might be affected. "As we got to the Irish coast they turned the flight back because the weather was too bad.
We were within 10 minutes of Dublin Airport when they announced they were really sorry but they'd have to return to Liverpool," he said.
18:14Steven WhiteTree pulled down on road by ferocious storm
A tree has been blown down by Storm Bram in the Lenaghmore area of Cork in Ireland as vehicles are forced to drive around it. Every county in the country will have been be under an orange weather warning at some point today, according to upgraded advisories from Irish forecasters, as massive winds and heavy rain continue.
A vehicle driving around the fallen tree in Cork (PA)18:04KEY EVENTWhat to expect after Storm Bram
Much of the UK is currently being pummeled by Storm Bram but once it completely moves away later in the week, what type of weather can we expect? You may be surpised to know that mild conditions of up to 16C have been forecast.
However, in the week before Christmas conditions could drop below zero as an Arctic blast strikes. In total, 16 counties are predicted to see flurries of snow on December 19 in England and Wales. Read the full article here[6].
17:32KEY EVENTMet Office forecast for this evening
The Met Office predicts a gusty evening ahead across the UK, including gales in the North West.
Elsewhere, heavy rain is expected to hit much of Scotland. The forecaster's latest update for the rest of today reads in full: "Remaining very windy across the north of the UK, with severe gales in the northwest. Further spells of heavy rain are expected across Scotland.
"Mostly dry elsewhere with clear spells, but still rather windy. Some showers in the west later." An earlier forecast from Met Office suggested that, "gusts of 80mph are likely on Tuesday evening, with the most exposed spots, such as the Outer Hebrides, potentially seeing gusts up to 90 mph as Storm Bram makes a close pass.
"The strongest winds will then move northwards into Shetland and Orkney overnight into Wednesday, before gradually easing during the morning."
Umbrellas haven't been much of a match for Storm Bram (PA)17:17KEY EVENTM4 delay chaos as bridge at 'risk of collapse'
Motorists are facing misery on the M4 today as Storm Bram is causing huge delays and problems with two bridges. The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge remains partially closed due to emergency repairs. The motorway has also been affected by the M48 Severn Bridge being closed as a result of strong winds.
The Severn Bridge has since reopened but two lanes remain closed in both directions on the Prince of Wales Bridge due to emergency lighting repairs from J22 M49 to J23 M48. The light columns are at immediate risk of collapse and repair work cannot commence until wind speeds have eased. Read our live blog here[7] for the latest updates on the M4.
Traffic jams on the M4 today (John Myers)17:05KEY EVENTHistoric York city centre flooded as River Ouse bursts
The River Ouse has burst its banks in York, submerging some of the medieval city centre under several inches of water.
The Environment Agencyhas issued dozens of flood warnings today as heavy rains and high winds fill rivers to bursting across multiple areas of the UK. The red warnings are concentrated mainly in the South West along coastal regions and over high ground - but a cluster are also around the York area, where dramatic pictures show its centre under water this morning following heavy rains upstream of the city.
York city centre after the River Ouse burst its banks (Charley Atkins / SWNS)
16:51KEY EVENTWoman dramatically rescued from submerged car
A driver had to been pulled from her submerged car after it was swept 40 yards downstream from a flooded ford. The woman entered the watery crossing at Moyles Court, near Ringwood in Hampshire, but soon realised it was too deep.
As she attempted to reverse out of the ford the surging water dragged her blue Ford Focus down the stream. Thankfully, a member of the public realised the danger and helped get the woman out of the floating car. The vehicle came to rest further downstream almost on its roof.
It will now only be recovered once the floodwater has rescinded and it is safe to do so. Elsewhere, in Dorset four people were also pulled from their vehicles in Thornford, after multiple cars became stuck on a flooded road.
The driver had to be rescued from her car (Max Willcock/BNPS)16:46KEY EVENTPilot makes split-second decision trying to land in storm
The heart-stopping moment a pilot struggles against a raging Storm Bram at an airport has been caught on camera. A dramatic clip shows the private plane lurching towards the runway at Belfast City Airport in Northern Ireland.
The aircraft is tossed around by the brutal storm as the captain fights to steady the aircraft for landing. But with just feet to go before touchdown, the pilot is forced to make a split-second decision, aborting the attempt as the howling winds make it far too dangerous to continue. Watch the video and read the full article here[8].
The jet attempted to land during Storm Bram16:44KEY EVENTCaravan park flooded after river bursts
Weir Caravan Park in Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire where the river Derwent has burst it banks after Storm Bram hit the UK. today 'Danger to life' weather warnings are in place as the storm brings heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of the UK.
The Met Office has put out an alert for areas of Scotland, Wales, and southwest England, with treacherous conditions expected throughout today and into tomorrow morning.
Weir Caravan Park in Stamford Bridge (Charley Atkins / SWNS)
16:33KEY EVENTCars flooded on road after river bursts
A dramatic photo shows a number of vehicles driving through deep flood water on A5052 at Colyford in Devon after the River Axe burst its banks after heavy overnight rain during Storm Bram.
The A5052 at Colyford in Devon today (Graham Hunt/BNPS)16:22Steven WhiteDelays on trains as tree falls on line
National Rail said in a statement: "There is a tree on the line between Sheffield and Stockport which means some lines are blocked. Trains between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. "Customers are advised that Manchester bound services are likely to divert, as a result Stockport will not be served.
Customers for this station are advised to alight at Manchester Piccadilly and board the next available TransPennine express or Northern service towards your destination. We expected this to continue until 5pm."
15:45Steven WhiteAmber warning extended
The amber wind warning for northern Scotland later on today has now been extended. The alert comes into force at 4pm and has now been extended from midnight on Tuesday until 3am on Wednesday.
It warns of potential "danger to life" from flying debris as well as the possibility of power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings and homes.
15:33Steven WhiteTrain operator issues warning
Avanti West Coast has issued a warning to commuters travelling today to check before they do due to 'significant disruption' expected because of the storm.
We strongly advise you to check before you travel on Tuesday 9 December as there is significant disruption expected on the rail network, particularly north of Preston. The Met Office has issued weather warnings due to Storm Bram, with strong winds and heavy rain affecting large...
-- Avanti West Coast (@AvantiWestCoast) December 9, 2025[9]15:18Steven White30 flood warnings and 160 flood alerts
At the time of writing, the Environment Agency has issued 30 flood warnings and 160 flood alerts across England. The agency advises that a flood warning indicates flooding is expected and so you should act now.
These types of warnings are usually issued 30 minutes to two hours before flooding. While a flood alerts means that flooding is possible and people should be prepared to act if it happens.
14:51Joe SmithOver 4,000 homes left without power
More than 4,000 properties are now without power across the UK, according to the latest information from the National Grid. The cause for the powercuts has not been officially stated but the numbers have grown throughout the day, as strong winds batter northern and western parts of the UK, as shown on the National Grid's own website.
Over a thousand of the properties without power are in the south west of the UK with many more in Wales and the midlands. The Northern Ireland Electricity Networks website shows power outages in 11 postcodes there. A map from the utility company says the outages in areas including Belfast and Lisburn are "due to severe weather conditions causing damage to the network".
14:28Joe SmithM48 Severn Bridge reopens
The M48 Severn Bridge has reopened after it was closed earlier due to strong winds.
The bridge was closed this morning before being briefly reopened and then closed again. Engineers will continue to monitor wind speeds and update their decision on whether the bridge can remain open throughout the day. As we reported earlier, the diversions caused by the bridge closure have caused traffic chaos with cars forced to use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge which only has one lane open in each direction.
(John Myers)13:23KEY EVENTMotorway chaos as M48 Severn Bridge closed while M4 Prince of Wales Bridge has single lane
Motorists are being warned to avoid trying to cross the Bristol Channel as severe delays and closures have resulted in massive disruption this afternoon.
Earlier we reported that the M48 Severn Bridge has been closed due to high winds. Traffic was being diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge - however emergency road works on that bridge are causing chaos. The Prince of Wales Bridge currently has four of its six lanes closed due to emergency roadworks - with delays of over an hour being reported by irate motorists.
There is heavy congestion eastbound from J26 Malpas, Traffic Wales reports. National Highways said: "There are severe delays approaching the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge in Gloucestershire in both directions due to emergency roadworks. "2 lanes of 3 have had to be closed in both directions for safety reasons awaiting emergency repairs to a number of lamp columns
"This is due to urgent safety inspections of lighting columns on the bridge, which have identified an immediate risk."
M4 Severn Bridges update Lanes 1 and 2 remain closed in both directions on the Prince of Wales bridge M48 Severn bridge now closed both directions due to high winds
Heavy congestion eastbound from J26 Malpas - Prince of Wales Bridge Over 1 hour delays reported pic.twitter.com/BH3ntwDAXL[10]
-- Traffic Wales South (@TrafficWalesS) December 9, 2025[11]12:38Joe SmithM66 reopens after flood and crash
The M66 was closed this morning following flooding of the southbound carriageway and a collision. National Highways reported long delays to rush hour traffic as workers cleared debris and tried to remove floodwater[12] from the carriageway.
The agency has said that all lanes on the motorway have now reopened and traffic reporting service Inrix reports that traffic is moving freely.
12:12Joe SmithMet Office expands 90mph amber wind warning
An amber 'risk to life' weather warning for gales that could reach up to 90mph has been expanded by the forecaster. The warning, which covers an area of north-west Scotland starting at 4pm today, has been updated to include a wider area. As well as expanding to cover more inland areas, the duration of the warning has also been extended - until 03:00 GMT on Wednesday morning.
Wind speeds are still predicted to reach as high as 70-80mph with gusts of over 90mph in a few places, especially exposed areas in the west.
11:58Joe SmithWhat do the different warning colours mean?
The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area. A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property. An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.
A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.
11:48Joe SmithLatest images show flood chaos
Waves batter the coastline at Dawlish, Devon, this morning (William Dax / SWNS)
11:33Joe SmithFresh weather warnings issued as forecasters predict 'gale force' winds
The Met Office issued a Yellow wind alert for parts of Scotland this morning with forecasters warning some areas could face "gale force" winds with gusts of up to 65 mph. The warnings cover the Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders and Strathclyde regions. The new warning comes into force on Wednesday at around midnight and persists until 9pm.
Brits in the area are warned to prepare for delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport power cuts and dangerous waves in coastal areas.
10:48Joe SmithThousands face disruption as ferries cancelled
Ferry operator CalMac says every one of its 30 ferry routes serving people on the west coast of Scotland has been affected by cancellations or disruptions due to the weather. Almost half of the routes, for many island communities their only link with the UK mainland, have been cancelled with 14 of the 30 routes currently out of action. The rest of the ferry routes are listed as having "disruptions" or "possible disruptions" due to the ongoing high winds associated with Storm Bram.
Map shows cancelled and disrupted CalMac ferry routes (calmac.co.uk)10:13Joe SmithSevern Bridge closed
The M48 Severn Bridge has been closed due to high winds.
Traffic is being diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. However motorists are being warned the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge currently has 2 lanes (of 3) closed in both directions for safety reasons awaiting emergency repairs to a number of lamp columns.
#M48 #SevernBridge is closed in both directions due to strong winds associated with #StormBram[13][14][15] Diversion via the #M4 #PrinceofWalesBrdge - be aware there are 2 lanes (of 3) closed currently, please allow extra journey time pic.twitter.com/r6rpamMb1s[16][17][18]
-- National Highways: South-West (@HighwaysSWEST) December 9, 2025[19]
Drivers have been diverted over the Prince of Wales Bridge (John Myers)10:08Joe SmithDrivers in the South West told to stay home unless 'absolutely necessary'
Devon and Cornwall police has said that people should only travel if absolutely necessary.
The force said: "We're already receiving lots of calls about incidents on roads across Devon and Cornwall this morning. Please only travel if absolutely necessary; drive at an appropriate speed and allow extra distance between other vehicles."
09:16KEY EVENT38 red flood warnings urging residents to 'act now'
The Environment Agency has issued 38 red flood warnings as heavy rains and high winds fill rivers to bursting across multiple areas of the UK. The red warning are concentrated mainly in the South West along coastal regions and over high ground but a cluster are aslo over York where pictures showed the River Ouse had burst its banks this morning following heavy rains upstream of the city.
The agency said a flood warning means that flooding is expected so you should act now. The Environment Agency usually issues a flood warning 30 minutes to 2 hours before flooding. There are currently also 173 flood alerts in force, meaning flooding is possible so people should prepare now.
(gov.uk)09:08Joe SmithDramatic images show flooding in York
The River Ouse, in York, has burst its banks with rising waters pictured inundating the city streets.
River levels in York remain high and are expected to stay elevated throughout Tuesday, the government's flood warning service said, as rainfall associated with Storm Bram in the upper catchments moves downstream. Flood gates in York have been closed and the public were warned to avoid walking, cycling, or driving through flood water. Latest reports put The River Ouse level at 3.02 metres.
Property flooding is possible when it goes above 3.00 metres.
(PA)
08:49KEY EVENTThousands hit with power cuts
As many as 3,000 properties in England and Wales are without power, the National Grid have said, as Storm Bram continues to batter the UK.
The body reported that 1,200 of these properties were in the West Midlands, while more than 600 were in the south-west of England and 850 in Wales.
The National Grid UK Customers X (formerly twitter) account has been reporting work underway to restore power to homes in Barnstaple and Liskeard.
The U.K.'s national grid live power cuts map (powercuts.nationalgrid.co.uk)References
- ^ Storm Bram (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ BelfastLive (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Liverpool Echo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ December 9, 2025 (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/BH3ntwDAXL (t.co)
- ^ December 9, 2025 (twitter.com)
- ^ workers cleared debris and tried to remove floodwater (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ #M48 (twitter.com)
- ^ #SevernBridge (twitter.com)
- ^ #StormBram (twitter.com)
- ^ #M4 (twitter.com)
- ^ #PrinceofWalesBrdge (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/r6rpamMb1s (t.co)
- ^ December 9, 2025 (twitter.com)