Brits suffer travel chaos as Storm Ashley set to batter UK into Monday after sodden Sunday

20 October 2024, 23:24

Travel disruption and flood warnings have been issued amid Storm Ashley
Travel disruption and flood warnings have been issued amid Storm Ashley. Picture: Met Office/Alamy

By Chay Quinn

Storm Ashley has wreaked havoc across Britain and Ireland today - as travel plans were wrecked by the first named storm of the season.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

More weather warnings are in place tonight - as Northern Ireland is hit with an amber alert by the Met Office because of high-winds and the possibility of power outages.

Read More: Complaints pour in as BBC Weather app warns of 15,000mph winds and searing UK temperatures of 404C

Further yellow weather warnings cover Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and north Wales until midnight.

Alerts will stay in place in Scotland until 9am on Monday.

80 miles-per-hour winds cancelled dozens of flights as the storm bore down on Ireland and Northern Ireland.

As Storm Ashley swept across the UK on Sunday, drivers in Scotland were cautioned to stay away from travelling on the roads where possible.

The strong gusts of the storm also impacted ferry services, with some ferries in the west coast of Scotland - served by ferry operator CalMac - facing cancellations throughout the day.

Extreme weather conditions at sea and high winds have led to the routes of the islands of Arran, Bute, Lewis being cut off.

P&O Ferries confirmed that cancellations will be in force for sailings between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in south west Scotland.

Read more: 'Danger to life' warning as Storm Ashley forms 'weather bomb' with 80mph winds and heavy rain set to strike

Read more: Exact date Storm Ashley set to batter UK as severe weather warning issued ahead of winds of up to 80mph

The Met Office has issued an amber weather alert for some parts of the UK
The Met Office has issued an amber weather alert for some parts of the UK. Picture: Met Office

ScotRail said services will be subject to "precautionary speed restrictions" from 4pm on Sunday until Monday morning for services in the west and north Highlands, Ayrshire and Stranraer.

Perth and Inverness will see similar restrictions from 6pm.

Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said there are "very strong, severe gales" on Sunday, which coincide with high spring tides, which could also result in "very large waves".

Mr Stroud added that gale force winds are expected to continue through to Monday morning, resulting in "fallen debris and trees". This could have an impact on commuter journeys at the start of the week.

The Met Office issued the north west of Scotland with an amber weather warning, stating: "Injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties."

This alert will remain in place from 9am until midnight on Sunday.

The whole of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as some parts of north-west England and Wales, have also been issued with a yellow warning for Sunday. This alert will be in force between 3am and midnight.

'Flood warnings'

As of Sunday morning, the Environment Agency listed 41 active flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected.

There are a further 127 'possible' flood alerts.

The flooding concerns areas of the River Severn, the south Cornwall coast, the Wye Estuary, and the Cumbrian coastline.

Natural Resources Wales confirmed there are three flood warnings and 14 flood alerts in place.

Dale, Pendine, and Kidwelly are among the affected areas.

Meanwhile, 21 flood warnings and 16 alerts have been announced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Some of these areas include Nith Tidal, Southerness Point, and Loch Ryan.

Flood warnings have been issued to some parts of the UK
Flood warnings have been issued to some parts of the UK. Picture: Alamy

The Met Office said Sunday will be a "widely windy day" with storm-force wins expected in the north west.

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."

Police Scotland have advised motorists to "plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel where possible" before the "strong likelihood" of disruption on roads.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Palma is on lockdown amid warnings of heavy rain

Majorca on lockdown as tourist hotspot faces flooding horror after storm kills more than 200

UK GP visiting senior woman at home

Care homes and GPs could face closure under Labour tax plans, health leaders warn

Rebekah Vardy 'threatens to reignite war with Coleen Rooney'

Rebekah Vardy not giving up as she launches appeal against Wagatha Christie £1.8m costs ruling

Alexandra Palace Hosts Its Annual Fireworks Display Ahead Of Bonfire Night

Bonfire night 2024 forecast: What will the weather be like for fireworks night?

Darrian Williams

Two teen boys found guilty after 16-year-old stabbed to death by masked attackers in Bristol park

Westminster Protest

'Betrayed' farmers to protest over Labour's inheritance tax raid - as Chancellor insists changes are 'fair'

Police crime scene tape UK

Six teenagers arrested after 13-year-old girl left with life-threatening injuries in East Yorkshire stabbing

Israel claims to have killed a high-ranking member of Hamas

Israel 'eliminates' one of Hamas' last high-ranking officials

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

King Charles 'finally cuts Prince Andrew off' as he 'axes Duke's annual £1m allowance'

Claw hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked sleeping students and teacher handed life sentence

Pictured: Public schoolboy, 17, who attacked sleeping students and teacher with hammers he kept 'for zombie apocalypse'

Emergency and rescue personnel work at the site where a concrete outdoor roof of a train station collapsed in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad

Train station canopy collapses in Serbia, killing 8 people in horror accident, with more victims still trapped in rubble

The passengers was fined £48 despite their bag fitting.

Air passenger shames easyJet on TikTok after he was charged £48 for carry-on bag that fit perfectly into size checker

Gabriel Silvera and  Dragos Carabineanu

Thug kills father with one punch after being asked for a cigarette outside Tube station

File photo dated 26/07/24 of Ben Stokes. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, England’s Test and limited-overs captains respectively, have each signed new two-year central contracts. Issue date: Thursday October 31, 2024.

Man arrested after home of England cricket captain Ben Stokes raided by masked burglars

Claw hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked sleeping students and teacher handed life sentence

Hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked two sleeping students and a teacher named

Tube strikes have been called off

Tube strikes called off after significantly improved pay offer, union announces