Storm Ashley latest: Flights cancelled and River Severn bursts banks as UK on high alert over flood warnings
Met Office weather warning remains in force on Monday morning after Scotland pummelled with 111mph gusts
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Storm Ashley has brought travel chaos and cut power to thousands as it pummelled parts of the UK with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain.
Dozens of flights were cancelled and diverted at airports including Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow, while debris and uprooted trees caused havoc on parts of the rail network.
Around 100 flood warnings were in place across Scotland, England and Wales late on Sunday night as the River Severn burst its banks, submerging the town of Worcester.
Power was cut to more than 10,000 customers in Northern Ireland, where the Met Office had issued one of two amber alerts for winds it said would likely cause injuries and pose a danger to life.
As the storm passed over the Scottish Highlands on Sunday night, average wind speeds hit 85mph with gusts of at least 111mph provisionally recorded at the summit of Cairn Gorm.
A yellow weather warning for wind remains in force for much of Scotland until 9am on Monday, with the Met Office cautioning “fallen debris and trees” could affect commuters.
Pictured: Galway prepares for Storm Ashley
Watch: Planes landing at Heathrow Airport face wrath of Storm Ashley’s 80mph winds
Watch: Planes landing at Heathrow Airport face wrath of Storm Ashley’s 80mph winds
Planes at Heathrow Airport have been seen getting blown around by the 80mph winds of Storm Ashley this morning (20 October). A number of flights from the like of BA and Virgin Atlantic were seen by Big Jet TV making their approach, sometimes sideways, before struggling to touch down in the bluster. Storm Ashley is “likely” to bring a threat of injuries and danger to life, the Met Office has said, with weather warnings issued across the UK. The storm is the first named storm of the year.
Dozens of flight cancelled in Belfast and Dublin
Dozens of flights have been cancelled at Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airport due to Storm Ashley.
In a stamtent on X, Dublin Airport said: “Weather conditions have led to some airlines cancelling a small number of flights this morning. As always, passengers seeking updates regarding a specific flight should contact their airline directly.”
Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure said temporary tidal flood defences were being deployed along the River Lagan at high-risk areas such as Lockview Road and Cutters Warf in south Belfast.
SEPA issues updated statement after 36 flood alerts in Scotland
Catherine Evans, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Scotland will experience the impacts from Storm Ashley this evening and into tomorrow morning. Coastal flooding will impact communities along the west coast and the islands, due to already high water levels combined with strong winds and large waves.
“While the risk is most significant around high tide times, our message continues to be: take extra care if you are near the coast at any point and stay clear of waves and water. Be careful when travelling around exposed coastal areas. Don’t walk or drive through flood water as there may be hidden hazards.
“Flood Alerts and Warnings are in place. We will continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and review regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings as required, so please do stay up to date through our website at beta.sepa.scot/flooding.
“We advise people to sign up to Floodline to receive free updates for where they live, or travel through, directly to their phone. People can also check our flood updates for all the latest information and view the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.”
Glasgow bridge closed amid Storm Ashley chaos
The Govan-Partick footbridge in Glasgow will remain shut today due to strong forecasted winds.
The Riverside Museum warned visitors of the closure in a post on Facebook.
The statement reads: “If you are coming by Subway today, alight at Partick station. The Govan-Partick Bridge is closed all day due to high winds.”
The Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, Perthshire – an autumnal attraction aimed at families where the forest is turned into a light show – announced it would be cancelled on Sunday, stressing the safety of attendees and staff was “of the utmost importance”.
A statement from organisers read: “Our operations team met on site this morning to assess the site conditions in light of Storm Ashley and various weather warnings and, in the interest of public safety, they have affirmed that it is not safe for the show to go ahead this evening.”
ICYMI: Great South Run cancelled
Sunday’s Great South Run has been cancelled because of high winds and rain expected from the storm.
Great Run, which organises the annual 10-mile race in Portsmouth, Hampshire, said weather conditions had not improved to a point where they could “safely stage” the event.
Organisers said the forecasted winds could compromise “event infrastructure, including our medical facilities” and that high tide levels, exposure along the seafront sections of the route and “potential debris” posed safety concerns.
What is a ‘weather bomb’?
Meteorologists have said Storm Ashley will see a rapid drop of pressure as it moves in from the Atlantic on Saturday night – a phenomenon called a “weather bomb”.
A ‘weather bomb’ is an unofficial term for a low pressure system whose central pressure falls 24 millibars in 24 hours in a process known as explosive cyclogenesis, according to the Met Office.
Rapid acceleration of air caused by the jet stream high up in the atmosphere can remove air from the column, reducing its weight so causing pressure to fall at sea level.
This in turn sucks in air which converges from surrounding regions resulting in faster and faster rotation of the circulation.
That will result in high winds, which coincide with high spring tides - bringing a risk of large waves and coastal overtopping.
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