Storm Ashley brings additional 55mph gusts and blustery showers

Britain was on flood watch today with more than 200 alerts or warnings in place as Storm Ashley continued to impact trains, causing power cuts and travel chaos.

The storm was still bringing 55mph wind gusts across Scotland today before moving northwards past Iceland later – after a top speed of 102mph when it hit yesterday.

The Met Office imposed a yellow weather warning for wind until 9am this morning for North East England and eastern and northern Scotland, before the gusts ease.

Ashley will be followed by blustery showers in Scotland, while it will be drier and brighter across parts of England and Wales with some rain across the far South.

Flights continued to be impacted at Aberdeen Airport this morning, with four cancellations including a British Airways departure to London Heathrow; a Loganair arrival from Kirkwall; and a return flight to Stavanger in Norway on Wideroe.  

The Environment Agency had 43 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, in place for England, including along the south Cornwall coast and large parts of the River Severn. A further 96 places were issued with lower-level flood alerts today.

The Scottish Environment Flood Agency imposed 47 warnings and ten alerts, while Natural Resources Wales had eight warnings and 13 alerts – giving a UK total of 217.

The strongest gust of 102mph was recorded at Cairngorm mountain in Scotland – while the highest at a lower-level weather station was 82mph at Aberdaron in North West Wales, which was its strongest October gust in records dating back to 1993. 

National Rail said Northern trains between Bolton and Blackburn were being blocked by a tree on the line this morning.

And in Scotland, speed restrictions were imposed due to high winds on routes including Glasgow to Oban, Mallaig, Edinburgh, Inverness, Largs, Androssan Harbour and Ayr; Inverness to Ardgay, Lairg, Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh; and Ayr to Stranraer.

Network Rail Scotland said its response teams had been patrolling the Mallaig and Oban branches of the West Highland Line overnight using road-rail vehicles.

Several roads in the north of England, including the A66 between County Durham and the M6 at Cumbria were reopened early today after being closed due to strong winds

The Met Office said winds will ease slightly as Storm Ashley moves North East on Monday, with a mix of scattered showers and sunny spells expected in its wake. More frequent rain may be expected in the South East.

The weather is likely to turn ‘unsettled’ later in the week, bringing possible heavy rain and strong winds once more. 

Tens of thousands of homes remained without power last night after Storm Ashley swept across Ireland. The number without power had been 53,000 yesterday.

The hazardous conditions saw dozens of flights cancelled yesterday, including at airports in Dublin and Belfast.

Ferry operator CalMac – which serves the west coast of Scotland – cancelled the majority of sailings yesterday, with the islands of Arran, Bute, Lewis and Harris being cut off as a result of adverse conditions at sea caused by the high winds.

P&O Ferries sailings between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in Scotland’s south west were cancelled yesterday.

The first named storm of the season also forced the postponement of several sporting fixtures.

Road users in Scotland were advised to avoid unnecessary travel where possible, while Sunday’s annual Great South Run in Portsmouth was cancelled because of weather-related safety concerns.

The Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, Perthshire – an autumnal attraction aimed at families where the forest is turned into a light show – also announced it would be cancelled yesterday, stressing the safety of attendees and staff was ‘of the utmost importance’.