Storm Bram wreaks havoc throughout Britain leaving 3,000 houses with out energy, roads underwater and Severn Bridge shut
Storm Bram will strike Britain today with 90mph gusts and four inches of rain as the Met Office issued six ‘danger to life’ weather warnings across the country.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds will cause disruption, particularly across South West England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland today and into tomorrow morning.
National Grid said 3,000 properties across England and Wales were without power this morning – including 1,200 in the West Midlands and 600 in the South West.
National Rail warned of possible delays across the network, with Great Western Railway trains being diverted between Swindon and Bristol Parkway due to flooding.
ScotRail reported disruption on eight of its routes including between Glasgow and Carlisle; Inverness and Edinburgh; and Kilmarnock and Girvan. Meanwhile Transport for Wales trains between Pontypridd and Tonypandy were blocked by flooding.
An amber warning for ‘very strong and disruptive winds’ was issued for North West Scotland amid concerns over damage to buildings, power cuts and travel chaos.
Gusts of 70 to 80mph are expected for a few hours and some places may experience 90mph, with heavy rain accompanying the strong winds and worsening impacts.
Large waves and beach material could be thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties, with the Met Office saying flying debris might pose a ‘danger to life’.
Those in the area covered by the amber alert for wind – mainly the Highlands and Eilean Siar – should prepare to protect their property and people from injury.
Waves batter the coastline at Dawlish in Devon this morning as Storm Bram hits the UK
A bus driver attempts to make his way through flooding at Seaton in Cornwall this morning
Flooding in York today after the Met Office issued a series of ‘danger to life’ weather warnings
Waves crash against Porthcawl breakwater and lighthouse at high tide in South Wales today
The M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions due to strong winds this morning
Waves batter the coastline at Dawlish in Devon this morning as Storm Bram hits the UK
Flooding in York today after forecasters said some homes and businesses could be deluged
A vehicles is driven through floodwater on a country lane in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, today
Racehorses on the gallops near to Beckhampton in Wiltshire in the rain this morning
A woman walks her dog beneath dark skies on the beach at New Brighton in Merseyside today
Flooding in York today after the Met Office issued a series of ‘danger to life’ weather warnings
Larry the cat shelters from the rain under the Christmas tree at Downing Street this morning
The M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions due to strong winds this morning
The Met Office said this can be done by checking and securing loose items outside their home – such as bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences.
Roads, bridges and railway lines in the region may close, with disruption to bus, train, ferry services and flights. The warning starts at 4pm today and runs until midnight.
Some homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and potentially damaged, while communities could be cut off because of flooded roads, the Met Office said.
Fast flowing floodwater is likely in the affected areas, also causing challenging conditions and a danger to life, it warned.
Drivers will face difficult driving conditions as spray and flooding may also lead to road closures.
The forecaster warned of travel disruption this morning and said to prepare to avoid travelling by road.
Meteorologists further advised people in the areas covered by the amber rain warning to prepare a flood kit, containing insurance and any other important documents, a torch and spare batteries, a first aid kit and prescription medicines.
The kit should also contain supplies for looking after family members or pets, as well as warm and waterproof clothes, blankets, and food and water, the Met Office said.
The amber rain warning also includes parts of South Wales and the South West of England, mostly covering Dartmoor in Devon.
The forecaster said around 100mm (4in) of rain could fall in some locations with 50mm (2in) to 75mm (3in) of rain expected across much of the warning area.
The warning began at 12am and ends at 10am today.
More than 30 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – are in place for England, along with more than 170 alerts signalling flooding is possible.
Meanwhile the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 20 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts covering much of the country, while Natural Resources Wales has seven flood warnings and 53 alerts in place.
Network Rail has advised passengers in Scotland to plan ahead and check their journeys before travelling today.
Transport Scotland said the conditions caused by Storm Bram are likely to cause disruption to road, rail, air and ferry travel.
Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop urged people to ‘plan ahead’ if they need to travel, adding: ‘The high winds are likely to impact other modes of transport, so if you are planning to travel by train, ferry or air, please check with your operator to see if your service has been affected.’
Yellow weather warnings are covering other parts of the UK today.
Two other yellow weather warnings for wind have been issued for Scotland, the North East and North West of England and parts of Wales into tomorrow.
The warning starts from noon today for 24 hours covering the Grampians, Highlands and Eilean Siar, the Orkney Islands and Strathclyde regions of Scotland.
The second warning also comes into force at noon and runs until 6am for parts of the Grampians, Denbighshire and Flintshire in Wales and North West and North East England.
