Storm Bert live updates: Body found after man swept away by river as close to month’s rain falls in 48 hours
Close to 400 areas at risk of flooding as Storm Bert brings torrential rains and winds to UK
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Your support makes all the difference.A body has been found in the search for a 75-year-old man missing in the River Conwy, as the heavy rainfall and thawed snow brought by Storm Bert places nearly 400 areas in the UK at risk of flooding.
Storm Bert brought nearly a month’s worth of rain in less than 48 hours, with winds of up to 82mph recorded, causing chaos for those travellling by road and rail. As temperatures rise, melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding – with the Met Office issuing six weather alerts on Sunday.
Homes and cars were submerged in Wales as rising waters were reported in towns across the country, including Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale and Aberdare.
A body was found in the search for Brian Perry, who went missing in the River Conwy near the market town of Llanwrst on Saturday, North Wales Police said. A man in his 60s died after a tree fell on his car in Hampshire, while 10 people were rescued from a home hit by a landslide in north Wales, rescue services said.
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One hundred-plus flight cancellations at London Heathrow airport
More than 100 short-haul flights to and from London Heathrow airport have been cancelled on Sunday.
The vast majority – at least 94 – are on British Airways. The airline has grounded three round trips to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Milan, as well as multiple European flights to and from Rome, Copenhagen, Madrid, Brussels and Paris. Domestic departures to Aberdeen, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle are also affected.
The Independent is seeking the reason for the cancellations. With high winds expected, it is usual for the “flow rate” of landing aircraft to be reduced, and for airlines at Heathrow to be asked to reduce the number of flights.
In addition to the BA cancellations, Aer Lingus has grounded one flight each serving Cork, Dublin and Shannon. Lufthansa has cancelled one flight to Munich and two to Frankfurt.
Finnair, Swiss and Turkish Airlines have also grounded one flight each to their hubs
‘Exceptionally mild’ morning for some, with temperatures higher than 17C
It has been an exceptionally mild start in places this morning, with temperatures 6C to 10C above the daytime November maximum, according to the Met Office.
Violent storm force 11 winds forecast in British waters
Violent storm force 11 winds – the most powerful short of hurricane-force on the Beaufort scale – are set to hit British waters on Sunday, according to the BBC’s shipping forecast.
The forecast, which denotes winds of between 64 and 72mph, has been issued in four areas – Rockall, around 200 miles west of the Hebrides, Bailey, which lies further north, the Faroes, and southeast Iceland.
Government in close contact with energy firms as they seek to restore outages, minister says
Energy secretary Ed Miliband has said his department is in close contact with energy firms as they seek to restore power to those affected by outages caused by Storm Bert.
Mr Miliband said: “My thoughts are with all those affected by Storm Bert.
“For those who have lost power, my department will be keeping in close touch with the energy companies as they seek to ensure it is restored as swiftly as possible and help those affected.”
Pictured: Firefighters work to pump water away from flooded streets on outskirts of Belfast
Hundreds of trains cancelled due to Storm Bert
Hundreds of trains have been cancelled because of the effects of Storm Bert.
South Western Railway
The main problem on the network from London Waterloo to Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and Devon is fallen trees. There are blockages between Cobham and Oxshott; between Basingstoke and Farnborough; between Reading and Basingstoke; and between Exeter Central and Honiton.
Northern Rail Many Northern Rail passengers are experiencing difficult journeys. Trains cannot run between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness due to flooding in the Ulverston area. “Due to the adverse weather conditions, Northern are currently struggling for road transport availability,” National Rail says.
The Settle-Carlisle line across the Pennines is closed due to flooding in the Hellifield area. The Leeds-Harrogate-York line is also blocked east of Horforth.
Transport for Wales
Due to the impact of Storm Bert, the Heart of Wales line between Shrewsbury and Swansea as well as the link from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog are both closed. Bus replacements are in place. Flooding on the Valley lines north of Cardiff is also causing cancellations.
Ten people rescued from house hit by landslide in north Wales
Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in north Wales, following a landslide, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.
Five crews attended the incident after the fire and rescue service was called just prior to 2pm on Saturday. The property has sustained substantial damage, the service said.
Travel disruption continues on Sunday as ferries cancelled and roads closed
Travel disruption has continued into Sunday as ferry operator DFDS cancelled services on some routes until Monday, including its Newhaven to Dieppe sailings.
It comes after as much as 64.4mm of rain fell in Capel Curig, north Wales, in 12 hours on Saturday and wind gusts of up to 82mph were recorded in the Welsh village.
In Wales, the A40 was closed due to a fallen tree, impacting road users from Sennybridge to Brecon, according to Dyfed-Powys Police. In southeast Wales, Gwent Police reported flooding on Sunday morning on the A465, travelling from Merthyr Tydfil towards Tredegar.
Rail operators had cancelled services on some routes all day on Saturday and urged passengers to check their routes before making journeys.
Avanti West Coast cancelled its service between Edinburgh and Carlisle all day on Saturday with the next direct service from Carlisle not scheduled to run until Sunday afternoon. Train journeys to and from Manchester Piccadilly were disrupted on Saturday evening as flooding between Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent blocked some lines.
‘Danger to life’ as six Met Office weather warnings in force on Sunday for wind and rain
There are currently six Met Office weather warnings in force across the UK.
The entirety of Northern Ireland is subject to a warning over strong winds, with forecasters predicting that delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely, that coastal communities will be impacted by spray and large waves, and that loss of power and other services is possible.
The south coast of England and west coast of Wales are also both covered by an alert for wind, which also warns of “a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties”, and “a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris”.
Further warnings for rain in southwest England and south Wales caution that some communities may be cut off by flooded roads, with homes and businesses flooded, with fast flowing or deep floodwater possible, causing a danger to life.
A warning for very strong winds has also been issued on the west coast of Scotland, which forecasters say are likely to bring disruption to transport, and dangerous coastal and marine conditions.
More than 300 areas at risk of flooding
More than 300 areas are at risk of flooding as Storm Bert lashes Britain.
As of Sunday morning, the Environment Agency has issued 56 flood warnings in England – meaning flooding is expected – and a further 168 flood alerts, which warn that it is possible.
In Wales, there are 34 flood warnings in force – mostly in the southeast – and 57 alerts, while Scotland is subject to four warnings – one in Orkney, two in Tayside, and another at Strath Oykel – along with six alerts.
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