Storm Bert live updates: Man dies after tree falls on car as ‘worst weather yet to arrive’
Scores of flood alerts issued across UK as major rail routes and roads closed amid ‘avalanche risk’ in mountains
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man has died in Hampshire after a tree fell on a car as Storm Bert brings power cuts, heavy snow and high winds to the UK.
Hampshire Police said it was called just before 8am this morning to the southbound carriageway between Kings Worthy and Winnall and found the driver of a black Mercedes E350 dead at the scene.
Two severe amber weather alerts were issued in parts of Scotland and England on Saturday morning, with up to 40cm of snow expected to fall in higher areas during a two to four-hour burst in which it will fall “thick and fast” ahead of a “rapid thaw” expected to cause localised flooding, the Met Office said.
With some rural communities expected to be cut off and 4,000 households in England and Wales left without power, the forecaster has urged people to keep a phone charger, torch and batteries at hand, while rail and road travel authorities urged caution and closed several major routes on Saturday.
The worst of the weather, however, is still on its way, according to UK power network chiefs.
Ross Easton, of Energy Networks Association (ENA), which represents the UK’s power network operators, said: “There are a few localised weather-related power cuts in parts of Britain this morning. However, for most parts of the country the severe weather hasn’t yet had a significant impact. Forecasters are describing this as a ‘multi-hazard event’ with the worst of the weather yet to arrive.”
Storm Bert map: When and where UK will be hit by 70mph winds and rain after Met Office issue weather warning
Holidaymakers at Newcastle airport face delays as runway ‘decimated’ by snow
Every storm name for 2024/25 revealed as Met Office confirm Storm Bert to hit UK this weekend
How to stay safe during Storm Bert
Holidaymakers at ‘decimated’ Newcastle Airport express surprise at intensity of snowfall
Holidaymakers at Newcastle International Airport said the runway was “decimated” by snow as Storm Bert batters the country with strong winds, heavy rain and snow and ice.
Frequent travellers Tim Harding, 53, and his wife, Chona, 58, were due to fly at 9.15am with Dutch airline KLM to Amsterdam from Newcastle before flying with Delta airlines to Orlando, Florida, to meet their family in the US for Thanksgiving.
Mr Harding said: “Going to the airport... it was sleeting all the way through then all of a sudden it started coming down.
“There were about four or five snow ploughs on the runway and they just couldn’t clear it. It was windy and it was literally coming down really quick, so hard. In the space of two hours, it went from nothing to decimated.
“The gritters were out continuously, the ploughs were out continuously, but it just wasn’t having an impact unfortunately. I was surprised how quickly it came down and how much came down in a two-hour period. I haven’t seen that for a long time.”
Met Office predicts heavy rain will develop overnight and into Sunday
The Met Office forecasts heavy rain developing overnight and into Sunday for south-west and southern England, stretching from Oxford to Truro.
There is a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100-150mm of rainfall, the national weather service said.
A yellow warning is in place from 6am on Saturday until 11.45pm on Sunday and up to 70mm of rain could fall during this time.
Storm Bert mapped: When and where UK will be hit by snow and winds
The Met Office has warned Brits to prepare for a weekend of rain, wind and snow as Storm Bert sweeps the country.
Read more in the article below on the various weather and flood warnings in place across the UK:
Storm Bert map: When and where UK will be hit by snow and wind
The majority of the UK will be facing at least one weather warning in the days to come
Homeowners facing flooding as Storm Bert batters Wales
Homeowners are facing flooding as Storm Bert continues to batter Wales, bringing rain, winds and rising waters.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued a series of flood warnings and alerts across the country, as bridges are shut and roads closed.
Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in north Wales, following a landslide.
George Thompson reports:
Homeowners facing flooding as Storm Bert batters Wales
Five Flood warnings and more than 30 alerts have been issued across Welsh rivers by Natural Resources Wales.
Five children among 10 rescued from Wales home after landslide
Five children are among the 10 people who have been rescued from a home in north Wales following a landslide.
The five adults and five children were rescued from the house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen.
A North Wales Fire and Rescue Services spokesman said they are all being assessed by ambulance services away from the scene “somewhere warm”.
A further landslide has been reported in the area but it is understood no-one else was affected.
Watch: Newcastle airport runway 'decimated' by snow as Storm Bert hits
More than 30,000 homes suffer power cuts
Tens of thousands of homes have been without power on Saturday as Storm Bert batters the UK.
Some 4,000 homes have been affected in the Midlands, south-west England and South Wales, while a further 27,000 customers were affected in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.
Dozens more flood alerts issued
As of 3pm on Saturday, there were 26 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – in force in England, along with 83 lesser flood alerts in areas where flooding is possible.
There were six flood alerts covering swathes of southern and eastern Scotland, and one warning in Orkney, while Wales was subject to 41 alerts and five warnings.
What are the latest Met Office weather warnings?
As of 3pm on Saturday, there remained seven yellow weather alerts in place, stretching the length of the UK, but mostly in western areas.
The entire south coast and much of western Scotland were subject to warnings for strong winds, with a rain alert in force in Wales until 6am on Sunday. Further rain alerts were issued in northwestern England and central Scotland.
Edinburgh bus services halted due to safety concerns
One of Scotland’s biggest bus firms has paused its services due to the impact of Storm Bert.
Lothian Buses, which operates the majority of routes in Edinburgh, as well as services in East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, said buses had been halted due to safety concerns.
In a post on X, the firm said: “Due to adverse weather across the network, buses are unable to continue due to safety concerns.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience while our teams work to assess routes.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments