Storm Bert live: Six weather warnings, flood alerts and ‘atrocious’ travel chaos as up to 40cm of snow to fall
Scores of flood alerts issued across UK as major rail routes and roads closed amid ‘avalanche risk’ in mountains
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Your support makes all the difference.Storm Bert has sparked warnings of “atrocious” travel conditions and thousands were hit by power cuts as the “multi-hazard” weather event brings heavy snow and torrential rain to swathes of Britain.
Two severe amber weather alerts were issued in parts of Scotland and England, with up to 40cm of snow expected to fall in higher areas during a two to four-hour burst in which it will fall “thick and fast” ahead of a “rapid thaw” expected to cause localised flooding, the Met Office said.
With some rural communities expected to be cut off and 4,000 households in England and Wales left without power, the Met Office has urged people to keep a phone charger, torch and batteries at hand, while rail and road travel authorities urged caution and closed several major routes on Saturday.
There are a further five lesser yellow weather alerts covering much of the UK, relating to blizzard-strength winds and torrential rain. Powerful winds of up to 68mph have already been recorded, while the Met Office warns parts of Wales and South West England could see more than 100mm of rain.
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Blackburn and Bradford fixtures among matches called off due to Storm Bert
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.
Blackburn and Bradford fixtures among matches called off due to Storm Bert
Bradford’s League Two game against Accrington and Fleetwood’s match with MK Dons have also become victims of the weather.
Thousands without power in England and Wales as ‘worst yet to come'
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.”
Why has Met Office issued amber alert?
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
Mapped: Where are weather warnings in force?
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.
Pictured: Snow falls across Scotland
Thick snow brings M8 motorway to a halt near Livingston
Cars have been pictured queued in thick snow near Livingston on the M8 motorway, which connects Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Championship football clash between Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth postponed
A Championship football match in Lancashire has been postponed due to torrential rain.
Blackburn Rovers were set to face Portsmouth at Ewood Park at 3pm on Saturday but the match will now be played at a later date.
In a post on X, Blackburn Rovers said: “Due to an unplayable pitch caused by torrential rain, today’s match against Portsmouth at Ewood Park has been postponed by the match official. We will announce details of the rearranged fixture in due course.”
Heavy snow on Scotland’s central road artery
Heavy snow has been reported near Dalwhinnie on Scotland’s A9 artery.
13cm of snow recorded in Staffordshire
Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said the effects of the storm would continue throughout the weekend.
“We expect the worst of the snow to pass by 12pm in Yorkshire but there will be some heavy rain and travelling conditions throughout the day will be pretty poor,” he said.
He said there was 13cm of snow measured in Leek in Staffordshire on Saturday morning and 68mph winds in Brixham, Devon.
“As milder weather comes in snow will melt, leading to pretty hazardous conditions,” Mr Snell said.
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