Storm Jocelyn - live: Thousands remain without power after 97mph winds wreaked havoc across the country

Flights and trains cancelled across country as commuters urged to check their routes before starting journeys

Snow and ice covers UK towns as cold blast continues to disrupt travel

The UK and Ireland are reeling from the destruction of Storm Jocelyn whose 97mph winds caused major travel chaos and have left thousands without power.

Approximately 12,000 homes and businesses remain without power across the Republic of Ireland following storms Isha and Jocelyn.

Earlier on Wednesday, NIE Networks said power had been restored to more than 52,000 customers since Sunday evening in Northern Ireland.

However, 1,200 remained without power on Wednesday morning.

Rail services to and from Scotland have been suspended until at least noon today, with Network Rail Scotland saying it had dealt with incidents of flooding, fallen trees and a shed roof blowing onto a high wall above a track on Tuesday evening.

Avanti West Coast also told passengers not to travel north of Preston until at least noon on Wednesday.

It comes as the coastguard launched an urgent search on Tuesday evening following reports of a person in the sea in Porthcawl, south Wales.

The alarm was raised just before 6pm but after several hours of searching in the treacherous conditions, the search was suspended in the early hours of Wednesday before it resumed as light returned.

Key Points

• Satellite video shows Storm Jocelyn passing near UK
• Fresh weather related travel chaos
• Search for man in water
• Mapped - Today’s weather warnings
• ‘Do Not Travel’ between England and Scotland

[24 January 2024 06:30 · Stuti Mishra]

Drivers urged to postpone their journeys amid road closures

Apart from train and flight delays, commuters are also being asked to avoid road travel this morning as several routes were closed due to Storm Jocelyn.

The M48 Severn Bridge and A66 in County Durham and Cumbria were closed due to high winds, with the Humber Bridge, A19 Tees Flyover and the Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire closed to high-sided vehicles.

In Scotland, the A76 was closed in both directions between Skelmorlie and Largs due to water breaking over the sea wall.

RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson said: "With so much heavy rainfall and debris on the roads, driving conditions will be very challenging, especially across northern parts of the country where the weather is at its worst.

"Visibility will be severely reduced due to the spray from lorries and other large vehicles, and the amount of water on the roads will increase stopping distances.

"We urge drivers to consider postponing their journeys in these areas if at all possible.

"We also suggest drivers avoid parking underneath or near to trees."

[24 January 2024 06:00 · Lydia Patrick]

Watch - Storm Jocelyn to wreak havoc with more wind and rain expected