Trees are down around the country with shutdowns potentially lasting all weekend as 90mph plus winds have hit
Gusts of 93mph have been recorded as Storm Darragh hit the UK. In a new update National Highways have revealed a number of main roads and bridges have been closed to all traffic for safety reasons.
Millions of people have been warned to stay indoors, thousands are without power, and trains have been cancelled as the Government’s “risk to life” alert came into force. The emergency alert came into effect at 1am on Saturday and was sent to people within the area covered by the Met Office’s rare red warning for wind in parts of Wales and 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”. National Highways has issued strong alerts and said many roads are shut currently.
They include:
- M4 – Prince of Wales Bridge – Bridge Closed in both directions due to strong winds. “Road users travelling to Wales will need to follow the M5 and M50 due to the M48 Severn Bridge also being closed due to strong winds. Our South West Regional Operations Centre are monitoring the wind speeds and will reopen the bridge as soon as the wind speeds reduce to a safe level.”
- A66 between North Yorkshire (A1M) and Cumbria (M6) closed: “in both directions due to strong winds resulting from Storm Darragh. Road users travelling across the Pennines are advised to plan ahead and consider alternate routes such as the A69.”
- M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire is closed in both directions between J1 (Aust) and J2 (Chepstow) due to strong winds. “Road users travelling to Wales will need to follow the M5 and M50 due to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge also being closed due to strong winds. Our South West Regional Operations Centre are monitoring the wind speeds and will reopen the bridge as soon as the wind speeds reduce to a safe level.”
- A34 in Hampshire is closed in both directions between the M3 J9 and the A272 (Three Maids Hill) for emergency works. “These works are to allow for the safe removal of a number of trees alongside both carriageways. The tree’s have been identified as being at risk of falling during the forecasted strong winds linked with Storm Darragh. The closure is expected to remain in place throughout the weekend.”
- A5 is closed in both directions between B5070 (Gledrid) and A483 (Halton) “This is due to the Ceiriog viaduct being exposed and the strong winds causing a risk to road users.”
- A282 southbound QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing is closed “All traffic wishing to travel southbound/clockwise on the M25 is being diverted through the east bore tunnel. Northbound crossing traffic is being confined to using the west bore Dartford tunnel only with a height restriction of 4’8m (15’9”). Vehicles over this height will have to seek an alternative route via the clockwise M25.”
National Highways is also warning of multiple smaller incidents closing roads – for the latest updates on these click here.
In the amber severe weather alert for Strong Winds in the South West and North West regions of the country for today between 1am and 9pm road users are advised to check ahead and plan for disruption to their journeys.
It said: “The strongest and most persistent winds of 60-70 mph are expected along the northern coasts of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
Strong winds are expected to progress east through Saturday with 50-60 mph winds along the southern coasts and 60-65 mph winds becoming focused down the east coast of the UK in the early hours of Sunday. Winds of 40-45mph are expected to persist across the network through Sunday, easing gradually from the west.
“Routes most likely to be affected by the strongest winds are northern Somerset M5 (Burnham-on-Sea to Avonmouth bridge), A30 Cornwall & Bodmin, A35 Lyme Regis. M56 J10-J14, M6 Cheshire & Thelwell Viaduct, A595, A590, M62 J22. High sided vehicles, caravans, motorbikes and other vulnerable vehicles are advised to take extra care when travelling due to the increased risk.
Speaking to Sky News, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the storm as a “challenging situation”. He added: “About three million homes will have had the emergency alert system to their mobile phone. I would just encourage anyone who has had that to follow the advice.”
He added: “Where you can, stay inside, don’t put yourself at risk, and just follow the advice at all times.” Tom Morgan of the Met Office said that as of 7am the storm was at its peak, but higher wind speed totals are “possible” later in the morning.
The centre of the storm, meaning winds are calmer, was across north-east England. Thousands of people in Northern Ireland, England and Wales were left without power.
The Energy Networks Association said around 86,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales were without power as of 9am. A spokesperson said around 385,000 customers were reconnected overnight, with more than 1,000 engineers ready to be deployed.
