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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Flight disruption at Heathrow and beyond
British Airways has grounded 36 domestic and European flights to and from London Heathrow today. They include two round-trips to Glasgow, Manchester and Nice.
Swiss has cancelled two Zurich flights and one to Geneva.
Other airlines cancelling single flights at Heathrow include Aer Lingus to Dublin, Air France to Paris CDG and Lufthansa to Frankfurt.
The Independent is seeking confirmation from Heathrow airport and British Airways about the precise reason for the cancellations. When severe weather is forecast, the “flow rate” of arrivals at Heathrow is often reduced, triggering cancellations.
Loganair links from Glasgow to Tiree and Barra are grounded. The airline is offering any passengers booked to the Western Isles or the Isle of Man today the chance to re-book on another day within the next week.
‘Rapid thaw’ could cause localised flooding, Met Office forecaster warns
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern has said temperatures that will rise quickly as the storm brings with it milder air from the Atlantic, resulting in a “rapid thaw” by the afternoon.
“The melting snow and the heavy rain could lead to localised flooding in places but the wettest spots would be Wales, in the South West, particularly over south-facing hills, that’s where we’re likely to see gales and certainly the risk of impacts from wind as well as from rain,” the meteorologist said.
Over the weekend, Wales and the South West are at risk of seeing 75mm of rain widely, and potentially more than 100mm over the higher parts of South Wales and Dartmoor.
UK airports not yet anticipating disruption from Storm Bert
UK airports are so far not anticipating disruption as Storm Bert brings snow, heavy rain and strong winds to the UK.
A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said: “Whilst we are not anticipating disruption at this time... we will continue to keep a close eye on the situation, as Storm Bert moves in.”
Manchester Airport said “we’re expecting bad weather but aren’t anticipating any disruption” while Newcastle Airport said it will be operating as normal overnight with teams “fully prepared to respond should conditions deteriorate”.
Ferry problems for passengers from Outer Hebrides to English Channel
Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in western Scotland are heavily disrupted. The link from Oban to Coll and Tiree is cancelled all day “due to South Easterly winds gusting up to 57mph and swell conditions.” Ferries from Oban to Barra and from Mallaig to Skye.
P&O Ferries cancelled its early Saturday morning sailings between Cairnryan in Scotland and Larne in Northern Ireland. Stena Line’s Belfast to Cairnryan services are also disrupted.
On the English Channel, DFDS Ferries has cancelled ferries between Newhaven and Dieppe tonight and tomorrow.
The UK’s only hovercraft service, from Southsea to Ryde, is currently suspended.
Rail companies urge passengers to avoid travel to certain areas as ‘severe weather alert’ issued
Rail companies have urged passengers to avoid travelling to certain areas and some warned of reduced services while National Highways issued a “severe weather alert” for snow affecting Yorkshire and north-east England between 5am and 3pm on Saturday.
In Yorkshire, the A628 remained closed overnight in both directions between the A616 Hollingworth and the A57 Flouch due to snow, National Highways announced.
The A66 Trans-Pennine route was closed between the A6 and the M6 (J40).
In Scotland, there will be speed restrictions on the West Highland Line, Highland Mainline, Stranraer line, Glasgow South Western Line, Far North Line, and West Coast Mainline between Carstairs and the border.
ScotRail has withdrawn services from Inverness to Elgin, Aberdeen to Inverurie, and Glasgow Queen Street to Oban while trains from Glasgow Central to Carlisle will terminate at Dumfries.
South Western Rail (SWR) asked passengers to only travel west of Basingstoke if their journeys are essential.
SWR announced services between Exeter and London Waterloo will start and finish at Basingstoke, that journey times will be longer between Salisbury and Exeter and between Bournemouth and Weymouth due to speed restrictions, and services across its network will start later than usual on Sunday and Monday because of safety inspections.
TransPennine Express “strongly” urged customers not to travel north of Carlisle on Saturday while Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston – including Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Up to four hours of snow and 40cm expected ahead of ‘rapid thaw’, Met Office says
Storm Bert is expected to bring around two to four hours of snow to affected areas on Saturday before a “rapid thaw”, the Met Office forecast on Friday.
The forecaster said that areas higher than 400m metres above sea level could see between 20 and 40cm of snow on Saturday, with 10 to 20cm in areas 200 metres above sea level, and 2 to 5cm in lower areas.
Drivers have been urged to be careful on the roads
The RAC urged people to take care on the roads.
RAC Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: “The first taste of winter means drivers are suddenly contending with the some of the worst road conditions we’ve seen all year.
“With freezing temperatures already causing disruption in the east and north of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and snow showers now affecting regions further south, we advise motorists to plan well as ice forms on untreated surfaces.”
Ambert weather alerts now in force in Scotland and England
Severe ambert weather alerts are now in force for snow and ice in parts of Scotland and England.
The first warning, in force until 5pm, covers parts of Perthshire and the southern Highlands, while the second – in force until midday – stretches from just north of Bradford and Harrogate to as far north as Peebles in the Scottish Borders, but is confined mainly to rural areas in central northern England.
The two severe Met Office alerts warn that Storm Bert will bring a spell of heavy snow, leading to some disruption.
There is a good chance rural communities could become cut off, with power cuts likely and mobile phone coverage potentially taking a hit, while travel delays are likely and passengers could become stranded.
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Snow has begun to fall across the UK
52,000 households likely to require help over weekend, say British Gas
British Gas are expecting to see up to 52,000 households require help this weekend with their heating and hot water systems, as temperatures are set to plummet.
Their engineers have urged homeowners to prepare in advance by carrying out simple tasks such as bleeding their radiators and having boilers serviced.
Other tips include carefully checking water pipes, arranging furniture for warmth and preparing your heating before bedtime.
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