Storm Bert live: Man dies after tree falls on car as ‘worst weather yet to arrive’

Thousands of homes are without power, roads are flooded and flights have been cancelled – but the worst of Storm Bert is still to come, according to UK power chiefs.

Winds of up to 70mph are set to batter coastal areas and, as temperatures rise on Saturday, melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding.

The National Grid said around 4,000 homes in its region of the Midlands, south-west England and south Wales, are without power.

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, and so our members have extra engineers and contact centre teams available, and control rooms are monitoring the storm closely as it develops.”

The Met Office forecasts heavy rain developing overnight and into Sunday for south-west and southern England, stretching from Oxford to Truro – and has updated its maximum rainfall expectations.

The yellow warning is in place from 6am Saturday until 11.45pm on Sunday and up to 70mm of rain could fall during this time.

There is a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100-150mm of rainfall, the national weather service said.

A man in his 60s has died after a tree fell on a car on the A34 near Winchester, Hampshire Police said.

The force was called at 7.47am to the southbound carriageway between Kings Worthy and Winnall and found the driver of a black Mercedes E350 dead at the scene.

It is unclear if the incident was related to Storm Bert but the cause is under investigation.

A silver Skoda Kodiaq was also damaged but no other injuries were reported.

Hampshire Police said the man’s family has been informed.

Lengthy lane closures have been put in place and the force is appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly anyone with relevant dashcam footage.

Storm Bert has wreaked havoc on the domestic football calendar with Blackburn’s Championship clash against Portsmouth one of a number of games called off.

Bradford’s League Two game against Accrington and Fleetwood’s match with MK Dons have also become victims of the weather.

In the National League, the derby between Rochdale and Oldham and Halifax’s meeting with Sutton have also gone.

The National Grid said around 4,000 homes in its region of the Midlands, south-west England and south Wales, are without power.

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, and so our members have extra engineers and contact centre teams available, and control rooms are monitoring the storm closely as it develops.”

In its amber weather alert, covering parts of central Scotland, the Met Office warns that Storm Bert will bring a spell of heavy snow, leading to some disruption on Saturday. It warns that:

• Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers
• Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
• There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off
• Some delays and cancellations to rail travel are likely

Here is the Met Office’s map of weather warnings as things currently stand.

There are five yellow alerts for rain, wind and snow, and a more severe amber alert for snow in central Scotland, still in force.

A previous amber alert for snow stretching from central England to the Scottish borders had been in force until midday.