UK weather: Flights & trains axed as Met Office issues ‘danger to life’ warning after Storm Ashley hits with 80mph winds

FLIGHTS and trains were axed after the Met Office issued a ‘danger to life’ warning yesterday – as Storm Ashley hit with 80mph winds.

The storm has lashed Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and north west England today as three weather alerts cover the UK.

Sienna Anderson/pictureexclusive.com

Storm Ashley hit Totland Bay on the Isle of Wight yesterday morning[/caption]

SWNS

Flooding in Worcester after the River Severn burst its banks[/caption]

Matthew Horwood

Huge waves crashing against the harbour wall in Porthcawl, Wales as Storm Ashley hit yesterday[/caption]

MET Office

A map shows the path of Storm Ashley[/caption]

LNP

A Ryanair aircraft taking off yesterday morning in the heavy rain and strong winds at Leeds Bradford airport in Yorkshire[/caption]

MetOffice

The Met Office has issued an amber wind warning[/caption]

Aer Lingus cancelled several flights from Manchester Airport to Dublin and Belfast.

The Scottish islands of Arran, Bute, Lewis and Harris were cut off after ferry line CalMac axed most services today.

And P&O cancelled services from Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in south west Scotland.

ScotRail said services in the warning zone would be subject to “precautionary speed restrictions” from until later this morning.

An amber wind warning was in force for western Scotland from 9am until midnight yesterday.

The Met Office warned large waves would likely throw debris onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties – posing a “danger to life”.

Delays and cancellations were also expected for road rail, air and ferry trips – with some routes likely to close.

The Environment Agency’s website listed 41 active flood warnings on Sunday morning, meaning flooding was expected, and 132 flood alerts, meaning flooding was possible.

The warnings included multiple areas of the River Severn, the south Cornwall coast and the Wye Estuary.

Natural Resources Wales said there were three flood warnings and 13 flood alerts in place, while 16 flood warnings were issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency along with 17 alerts.

A yellow wind warning covered Scotland, Northern Ireland, north west England and north Wales from 3am until midnight yesterday

The warning will stay in place for northern Scotland until 9am this morning.

Meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: “Parts of western Scotland could see gusts of 70-80mph during the afternoon.

“It will turn drier and brighter across much of England and Wales with some sunny spells during the afternoon.”

Road users in Scotland were advised to avoid unnecessary travel where possible, while Sunday’s annual Great South Run in Portsmouth, Hampshire, has been cancelled because of weather-related safety concerns.

Met Office expert Dan Stroud told The Sun: “A detail of low pressure is moving in rapidly.

“It will affect the north and west of the country. We are expecting it to bring a spell of very severe gale force winds.

“We are watching the development of it hour by hour and everything is going to plan.

“It will bring very strong winds in the North and West on Sunday, particularly Sunday afternoon.”

The winds will ease as the storm pulls away to the east on Monday – leaving behind a mix of sun and showers.

Next week will be unsettled for many – with some longer spells of rain in parts.

SWNS

Flooding in Worcester after the River Severn bursts its banks today[/caption]

Stephen Huntley/HVC

A car navigating waterlogged roads in Essex this morning[/caption]

Alamy

Sea anglers fishing by Brighton Palace Pier caught by large waves today[/caption]