Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Biker dies as gales fell trees

Storms chaos: Forecasters predict more to come as high winds and snow wreak havoc on roads and at sea

Peter Victor
Tuesday 20 February 1996 00:02 GMT
Comments

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.

Severe weather returned yesterday with high winds and driving snow causing at least one death. A man was killed when his motorcycle smashed into a fallen tree near Iver, Buckinghamshire.

The rider, in his 30s, was catapulted from his machine and ambulance crews were unable to save him. Trees brought down by winds gusting to 50mph disrupted trains and road traffic.

Winds of up to 70 knots prevented cross-Channel ferries entering Calais. At one point five Stena Line and P&O vessels that had sailed from Dover were forced to wait off the French port before docking.

In Scotland, snow caused most problems, although the fall was not as bad as predicted. Temperatures hovering at just above freezing were brought down to minus 10C in bitter northerly winds.

Thirty people were evacuated from the Norfolk village of Walcott after sea defences were breached. Their houses escaped flooding and they returned later, but the village was on alert for further flooding last night.

A spokeswoman at the London Weather Centre said snow showers were likely to return tomorrow along with more high winds.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in