Storm Ashley latest: Rail and flight delays continue due to 80mph winds as UK put on high alert for flooding
Met Office weather warning also remains in force on Monday morning after Scotland pummelled with 111mph gusts
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Storm Ashley has battered parts of the country with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain as more flights and trains are cancelled.
As the storm passed over the Scottish Highlands on Sunday night, average wind speeds hit 85mph with gusts of at least 111mph provisionally recorded at the summit of Cairn Gorm.
Speed restrictions are in place on rail lines across Scotland due to the high winds, while flights continued to be impacted at Aberdeen Airport this morning. At least four have been cancelled, including one bound for London Heathrow Airport.
In England, National Rail said Northern services between Bolton and Blackburn were being blocked by a tree on the line this morning.
The Environment Agency had 45 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, in place across England on Monday, including along the south Cornwall coast and large parts of the River Severn, after the river burst its banks, submerging the town of Worcester, the previous day.
A further 96 places were kept on high alert overnight with possible flooding – while, in Scotland, the Scottish Environment Flood Agency had 47 flood warnings in place, with eight issued by Natural Resources Wales.
Wind gusts exceed 100mph in Scottish Highlands
Wind gusts exceeding 100mph have been reported in the Scottish Highlands.
102mph gusts were recorded at the Cairn Gorm summit, which saw hurricane-force wind speeds of 84mph on Sunday morning.
The Bealach Na Ba observation station near Applecross saw gusts of 96mph.
Gusts of 99mph were forecast to hit the station at the summit of Aonach Mor, just two miles from Ben Nevis.
Thousands without power in Northern Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, NIE Networks said that at 5.30pm approximately 4,000 customers were without power in outages that hit as Storm Ashley batters the region.
Power had been restored to around 2,000 customers who had lost supply, NIE Networks said.
In the Republic of Ireland, ESB Networks said 53,000 customers were without power shortly after 5pm on Sunday. Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Dublin were the worst affected counties.
RNLI issues warning over Blackpool Promenade
The RNLI has warned people to “stay safe and stay away” from Blackpool Promenade.
A statement on the lifeboat charity’s Facebook read: “The Met Office currently have the North West under a weather warning, and this especially includes the Blackpool and Fylde Coast with winds in excess of 60 miles per hour later in the day.
“The specific concern for the Blackpool coast is the high spring tides at 1.28pm today and 1.50am Monday morning, and potential flood risk to the Promenade area.
“The marine forecast for the Irish Sea for this time is for a mainly southwest wind, force 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
“Blackpool RNLI is making preparations at the Lifeboat Station to secure equipment and the boat house, and the volunteer crews urge everyone tostay off the Promenade around these tide times, especially the sea wall areas for your own safety.”
Full report: Storm Ashley brings rail, road and air chaos as UK on high alert over flood warnings
Storm Ashley brings rail, road and air chaos as UK on high alert over flood warnings
First named storm of the season is ‘likely’ to bring a threat of injuries and danger to life, Met Office says
Wind speeds hit 81mph, Met Office says
The Met Office has published a list of the highest wind speeds recorded so far today, including gusts of 81mph in Killowen, Northern Ireland, and 75mph at the Welsh village of Capel Cruig.
Mapped: Where and when are ‘danger to life’ weather warnings in force across UK?
Storm Ashley mapped: Where are weather warnings in force across the UK?
Met Office is warning of possible damage to homes, power cuts and disruption to travel by air, road, rail and ferry
Pictured: Galway prepares for Storm Ashley
Watch: Planes landing at Heathrow Airport face wrath of Storm Ashley’s 80mph winds
Watch: Planes landing at Heathrow Airport face wrath of Storm Ashley’s 80mph winds
Planes at Heathrow Airport have been seen getting blown around by the 80mph winds of Storm Ashley this morning (20 October). A number of flights from the like of BA and Virgin Atlantic were seen by Big Jet TV making their approach, sometimes sideways, before struggling to touch down in the bluster. Storm Ashley is “likely” to bring a threat of injuries and danger to life, the Met Office has said, with weather warnings issued across the UK. The storm is the first named storm of the year.
Dozens of flight cancelled in Belfast and Dublin
Dozens of flights have been cancelled at Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airport due to Storm Ashley.
In a stamtent on X, Dublin Airport said: “Weather conditions have led to some airlines cancelling a small number of flights this morning. As always, passengers seeking updates regarding a specific flight should contact their airline directly.”
Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure said temporary tidal flood defences were being deployed along the River Lagan at high-risk areas such as Lockview Road and Cutters Warf in south Belfast.
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