Storm Isha live: travel chaos across UK with rail cancellations in Scotland after ‘wild night’

Disruption expected on Monday as cancellations and delays issued for rail, sea and air with heavy rain and high winds forecast

Train services in Scotland are expected to be suspended until around noon after “a wild night”, Network Rail says.

The railway has recovered quickly this morning following Storm Isha with trees and debris cleared across routes in England and Wales, and route proving trains reporting lines clear.

Passenger and freight services have restarted and a good service is expected in most areas. Passengers should still check before they head out for the latest travel news on trains operators’ websites.

Between 3.30pm on Sunday, 21st January and 2am on Monday, 22nd January, officers dealt with over 1,300 calls from the public, approximately 600 of these related to the storm.

“There is also a continued risk of significant debris on the road network as wind speeds remain high throughout Monday.

Continue reading...

Tornado warning issued as 90mph Storm Isha hits UK

Forecasters warn of life-threatening gusts in coastal areas as weather causes travel disruption across country

A tornado warning has been issued across parts of Britain as Storm Isha takes hold, with potentially life-threatening gusts and travel disruption expected into Monday.

A “tornado watch” zone was issued for Northern Ireland as well as parts of Scotland and northern England by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro) on Sunday afternoon. That means a “strong tornado” is possible in those regions.

Continue reading...

UK weather: severe wind warnings as Storm Isha set to wreak travel chaos

Damage to buildings and flying debris expected as country set to be battered by wind and rain

Storm Isha is set to batter “everybody” in the UK with wind and rain during a “rare” weather cycle, forecasters say.

Winds of up to 80mph will swoop in later on Sunday, potentially causing power cuts and loss of mobile phone signal, while roads and bridges are likely to be shut and transport services could face delays and cancellations in some areas.

Continue reading...

Arctic blast set to sweep through UK, bringing temperatures as low as -15C

‘Persistent band of snow’ likely across Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and Wales

The UK is set to experience its coldest night of the winter season this week, thanks to an Arctic blast that is travelling from the north to the south.

Temperatures are expected to be 5C-6C lower than usual for this time of year, falling to -15C in some areas.

Continue reading...

UK cold snap to continue with snow and ice descending from north Scotland

Met Office warns of travel disruption in Scotland as arctic winds and snow showers move inland from northern coasts

The cold snap will continue across most of Britain throughout Sunday and into early next week, with warnings of potential travel disruption in Scotland.

The Met Office has put in place yellow weather warnings of snow and ice for much of the north of Scotland throughout Sunday and Monday.

Continue reading...

UK weather: England remains on flood alert as temperatures dip

Majority of flood warnings in south of England and Midlands, with some snow flurries overnight

More than 100 flood warnings remain in place after last week’s Storm Henk deluge as large parts of the UK endured a cold, frosty morning.

The Environment Agency (EA) said there were 126 flood warnings in England where flooding is expected, including a flood warning on the River Thames south-west of London in Wraysbury.

Continue reading...

UK weather: Storm Henk flooding misery to continue beyond weekend

1,800 properties estimated to have flooded in England, as forecasters warn of colder weather on the way

The misery and chaos caused by flooding in England is set to continue until at least Monday, according to authorities.

In its latest update, the Environment Agency estimated that more than 1,800 properties had flooded after the heavy, intense downpours brought by Storm Henk.

Continue reading...

Charity criticises ‘crazy’ rules for flood defence funding in England and Wales

The National Flood Forum says flooded communities face future misery if they can’t make a business case for help

People affected by this month’s floods will face the same problems in future because their communities cannot access government support, campaigners have warned.

Small towns and villages affected by floods in England and Wales can ask for flood defences and mitigation through their council or the Environment Agency (EA), but are being turned down because they cannot make a business case, according to the National Flood Forum.

Continue reading...

Rishi Sunak under fire after week of devastating flooding across England

PM insists government is responding, as some residents are told to expect five more days of misery and colder weather

Large swathes of England ended the week devastated by flood water as rivers reached record highs, provoking a bitter political row over funding for the country’s most vulnerable areas.

Labour accused Rishi Sunak of being “asleep at the wheel” over flood warnings at the end of a week in which at least 1,000 properties were flooded and some villages were totally cut off, with parts of Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire worst affected.

Continue reading...

Warnings over further flooding after Storm Henk batters England – live

Environment agency says ‘significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible’ on Friday

The highest rainfall totals recorded on Thursday were 35.2mm at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a wide range of 20-30mm across much of the southern counties of England.

The Environment Agency said the impact of surface water and river flooding would continue to be “significant” across parts of England over the next five days.

Continue reading...

UK weather: hundreds of flood warnings in place after heavy rain

Warning of ‘significant’ impact of surface water and river flooding across England, as showers forecast for Friday

Hundreds of flood warnings are in place after widespread heavy rainfall across the UK.

Homes across the Midlands were inundated on Thursday while parts of southern England including Gloucestershire were also submerged. On Friday morning, 302 flood warnings were in place in England, as well as 13 in Wales, with forecasters predicting showers could continue.

Continue reading...

UK weather: Storm Henk triggers more than 300 flood warnings in England

Train operators say services face delays and cancellations after rain and strong winds batter UK

More than 300 flood warnings are in place across England as travellers face transport delays, with train services struggling to get back on track after rain and strong winds from Storm Henk lashed large parts of the UK.

The Environment Agency said on Wednesday there were 368 active alerts in England for possible flooding, 322 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected and, in Northampton, one danger-to-life severe flood warning.

Continue reading...

Climate crisis: 2023 was UK’s second-hottest year on record

Such a warm year would have occurred once in 500 years without global heating, Met Office scientists say

The UK had its second-hottest year on record in 2023, according to provisional data from the Met Office, as the climate crisis continued to deliver elevated temperatures.

Such a warm year would have occurred only once in 500 years without human-caused global heating, the scientists said. The heat peaked in June and September, both record hot months in a series dating back to 1884. The UK’s 10 warmest years have all occurred since 2003.

Continue reading...

UK weather: Storm Henk hits parts of south as Met Office issues warning

Damage to buildings and floods likely as first named storm of 2024 sweeps across southern Britain

Commuters faced misery on roads and rail networks and people were told to prepare for flooding as the first named storm of 2024 – Henk – swept across parts of southern Britain, bringing winds of up to 80mph (128km/h).

About 2,000 homes in Cornwall experienced power cuts and trees were brought down by the wind. People were asked to stay away from coastal areas hit by the storm and in some areas police advised people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Continue reading...

‘Widely wet’ start to new year expected with flood warnings across UK

Met Office issues yellow warnings, as heavy rain expected in Wales and strong winds across England

A “widely wet” start to the new year is expected for many areas, with heavy rainfall predicted for parts of the UK and dozens of flood warnings in place.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain and wind for large parts of England and Wales on Tuesday. The heaviest rain is more likely across parts of Wales, the Midlands towards eastern England and Yorkshire while gusts could reach 60mph in coastal areas or 40 to 50mph elsewhere, the forecaster said.

Continue reading...

All Eurostar trains into and out of London cancelled due to flooding

Southeastern trains on same route also affected, while windy conditions expected to sweep UK

Thousands of travellers faced disruption to their new year plans after all Eurostar trains in and out of London were cancelled on Saturday after “unprecedented” flooding in a tunnel on the line.

There were no high-speed services running between London St Pancras international and Ebbsfleet international in Kent on Saturday, and Southeastern trains on the same route were also suspended. A total of 41 Eurostar trains were cancelled.

Continue reading...

UK weather: high winds to batter coasts of Wales and southern England

New Year’s Eve revellers told to prepare for near-freezing conditions as parts of UK recover from Storm Gerrit

Gusts of up to 75mph (120km/h) are expected to batter the coasts of southern England and Wales this weekend as other parts of the UK continue to recover from the ravages of Storm Gerrit.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for high winds in the south-east, south-west, East Anglia and Wales from 11am on Saturday until 3am on Sunday, New Year’s Eve.

Continue reading...

Tornado damages homes in Greater Manchester as Storm Gerrit batters Britain

Thousands of homes without power and rail travel in chaos after strong winds, heavy snow and rain

A major incident has been declared in Greater Manchester, where a “localised tornado” has swept through the Tameside area, damaging about 100 properties and leaving thousands of homes without power.

Storm Gerrit, the latest named storm to reach the UK, has also caused heavy snow, high winds and rain in parts of Scotland, where fallen trees, branches and other debris have brought down power lines.

Continue reading...

UK weather: major incident declared in Scotland due to Storm Gerrit

Ploughs and tractors deployed to rescue cars and jackknifed lorry from A9 and surrounding roads

A major incident has been declared in parts of Scotland where drivers are stranded in blizzard conditions after the arrival of Storm Gerrit.

Six ploughs and three tractors have been deployed in an attempt to rescue cars and a jackknifed lorry from the A9 and surrounding roads in the Scottish Highlands.

Continue reading...