BRITS have been urged to stay at home in a rare red warning as 90mph Storm Darragh winds hit – with flights and trains axed.
Millions have been warned to stay indoors and thousands are without power as the Government’s “risk to life” alert comes into force.
Stephen Huntley/HVCA driver got stuck in 4ft floods in Essex yesterday[/caption]
Storm Darragh is whipping up waves on the Cornish coast
Met OfficeThe Met Office has issued a red warning[/caption]
Storm Darragh will batter the west coastMET Office
An emergency government phone alert reached three million Brits last night
The emergency alert came into effect at 1am for people covered by the red wind warning in parts of Wales and the south west England.
It was the largest use of the warning system yet, with the alert urging residents to avoid driving and to “stay indoors if you can””
Wind gusts of up to 92mph have been recorded overnight in Capel Curig in North Wales and Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula.
Gusts of between 72-78mph were recorded along the coasts of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Thousands of people across Northern Ireland, England and Wales were left without power as they braced for the storm’s impact.
As of 5am, National Grid reported more than 12,600 premises have lost power in the Midlands and south west.
Train chaos
Disruption to Northern services between Leeds and Wakefield Westgate expected until the end of the day
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect Avanti West Coast services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect CrossCountry services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect Great Western Railway services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect LNER services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect Merseyrail
Severe weather and Storm Darragh is affecting Northern services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh is affecting ScotRail services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect South Western Railway services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh will affect TransPennine Express services
Severe weather and Storm Darragh is affecting Transport for Wales services
More than 20,000 homes have been disconnected in Wales, a spokesperson added.
A note on the Northern Ireland Electricity Network’s website said the authority was unable to provide estimated restoration times.
“Due to the number of faults we are currently experiencing on the network, we are unable to provide an estimated restoration time for your electricity supply at this time,” it read.
“We are working to restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible.”
Both the Prince of Wales Bridge, M4 and the Severn Bridge, M48, which connect south west England to Wales are closed due to strong winds.
Network Rail Wales said all train services west of Cardiff were suspended until further notice due to falling trees blocking the line.
National Highways advised the QEII Bridge at Dartford Crossing in England’s south east had also been closed due to strong winds.
In the West Midlands, the A5 was closed between the B5070 at Gledrid and A483 at Halton due to strong winds.
The Met Office issued the red weather warning – the most serious type – on Friday for wind.
This means dangerous weather is expected and people are urged to take action to keep themselves and others safe.
The warning, which has led to the cancellation of events including Christmas attractions, is in place from 3am to 11am on Saturday.
The Met Office warned of “damaging winds” with gusts of 90mph possible over the coasts and hills of west and south Wales.
Forecasters say the strongest winds will begin to ease from late morning.
The Cabinet Office’s Emergency Alert system sent a message to every compatible mobile phone in the impacted areas.
The alert contained information about the red warning and guidance on how to stay safe into Saturday.
Mobile phones made a loud siren-like sound even if they were set on silent, with the sound and vibration lasting for about 10 seconds.
But some people have claimed they did not receive the alert.
Government warning
It is understood that people will have received the alert if they live in the following areas:
Devon
Bath
North East Somerset
City of Bristol
North Somerset
South Gloucestershire
Somerset
Isle of Anglesey
Gwynedd
Conwy
Ceredigion
Pembrokeshire
Carmarthenshire
Swansea
Neath Port Talbot
Bridgend
Vale of Glamorgan
Cardiff
Monmouthshire
Newport
A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office added: “The UK Government has well rehearsed plans in place for severe winter weather.
“It is working with teams from devolved governments, local authorities, the emergency services and other public bodies to coordinate the response to any disruption.”
A separate amber warning covering a larger stretch of the west coast of the UK.
The amber warning zone stretches from southern Scotland to Cornwall, and Northern Ireland is in place from 1am until 9pm.
Flying debris and falling trees could pose a risk to life while large waves.
Beach material could be thrown on to coastal roads and seafronts, forecasters said.
There could also be damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down.
Power cuts could affect other services such as mobile phone coverage.
Dublin airport has welcomed a number of flights bound for other airports and diverted due to the storm.
A number of British Airways flights to and from Heathrow, Paris, the United States and the Netherlands have also been cancelled.
Darragh is also expected to bring heavy rain over the weekend, with more than 120 flood alerts in place this morning.
An amber warning for rain is in place in Wales from 3am to 6pm today.
Heavy rain is likely to lead to disruption to transport and infrastructure.
A yellow warning for rain is in place for Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as parts of Scotland until noon.
The Met Office said periods of heavy rain in south and mid-Wales all day are likely to see 20-30mm fall in three to six hours.
Totals of 80-90mm are possible by the time it begins to ease in the evening.
National Rail said the storm was likely to affect services across the whole network.
A spokesperson advised people to check their journey in full before travelling.
Last services of the day could be cancelled and passengers may not reach their destination.