WILD WINDS Storm Lilian wreaks havoc with flights cancelled and ‘do not travel’ warnings as trees block roads amid 80mph wind alert
STORM Lilian has wreaked havoc today with heavy rain and 80mph winds causing flight cancellations and blocked roads.
Brits across the country saw their Bank Holiday plans grind to a halt amid travel mayhem as the storm descended.
Gusts of up to 80mph will push eastwards this morning - sparking delays on the M6, A66, and A1(M).
British Airways has already scrapped 14 flights at Heathrow Airport as Storm Lilian continues to batter the country.
The airline has axed a number of international holiday and domestic flights ahead of the long bank holiday weekend.
A spokesperson for BA said: "Due to restrictions imposed by air traffic control as a result of adverse weather across the UK, we've made some minor adjustments to our schedule."We've apologised to our customers for the disruption to their travel plans and to help get them to their destinations as quickly as possible."
The relentless storm has continued to cause mayhem across the travel network with multiple trains cancelled and delayed.
Powerful gusts were reported to have knocked over a tree in Newington, Kent, which has been left blocking the railway.
As it was careening along the tracks, a train ploughed into the tree and "sustained significant damage", according to National Rail.Drivers across the country are also facing long delays as the howling winds of the storm take hold.
A felled tree has caused 30 minute delays on the M6 outside Knutsford, Cheshire, after it fell on the carriageway.
Meanwhile, a number of trees were also reported to have fallen in Bradford with parts of the M1 held up by "debris" on the road.
The M48 Severn Bridge has been closed in both directions due to the storm.
Road users are advised to use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge as an alternate route.
Almost all Metrolink lines have been suspended "due to the storm bringing down multiple trees across the network".
Five-day weather forecast
Here's all you need to know about the weather in the coming days
Today
Storm Lilian brings heavy rain and strong winds during the early morning but clears northeastwards quickly.
Blustery showers and sunny spells follow.
Largely dry across Wales and southern England, until the evening.
Windy here to start, but slowly easing.
Tonight
Blustery showers continuing in the north, some being heavy in the northwest.
Drier across the south, before an area of rain pushes into southern parts during the early hours.
Saturday
Heavy rain moves across the south through the morning, clearing the southeast by the afternoon.
Sunshine and heavy showers follow, with winds increasing in the north.
Feeling cooler.
Sunday to Tuesday
Showers in north on Sunday, but drier further south.
Rain again for the northwest on Monday but drier further south.
Tuesday sees rain in the north but drier further south.
The Bee Network said: "Due to severe weather conditions, services are running between Rochdale - Victoria and Airport - Sale Water Park.
"All other lines are currently suspended. Customers can use tickets and passes on any Bee Network services or Stagecoach services. Please check back for updates."
Another post from the Bee Network warned: "Storm Lilian - a @metoffice yellow weather warning is in place for strong winds until 11:00. If you're travelling on the network this morning, please plan ahead and take extra care."
Overnight, more than 300 homes in Durham, and an additional 80 homes in Yorkshire, were left without power, with an urgent warning issued for revellers currently partying at Leeds festival.
Northern Powergrid say they are aware of power cuts across the Wakefield postcode area.
A weather update on Leeds festival's dedicated app read: “Over the next 36 hours, strong gusts are expected. Please secure all loose items inside your tents and reinforce your tents with pegs."
Numerous yellow weather warnings were in place across the UK this morning as the storm makes landfall.
A warning for rain covering the South East until 1pm tomorrow urges people to be wary of a possible risk of flooding.
London, Canterbury, Brighton and Portsmouth are just some of the regions affected.
15 to 30 mm of rain is likely to fall widely and as much as 50 to 70 mm rain could accumulate in a few places.
A wind warning covering north Wales, northern England and southern Scotland was active until 11am today.
Forecasters warned of damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs.
The flying debris poses a "danger to life" along with large waves on the sea front, forecasters said.
Yellow rain warnings, which have since expired, were also in force for south west Scotland and Aberdeenshire until 9am.
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: "The strongest winds are likely to start forming through the early hours initially across parts of north Wales into the Liverpool, Blackpool area, and then crossing over the Pennines and into the east and north-east England - Yorkshire, up to Northumberland - before then clearing out into the North Sea.
"It's really quite quick."
Tomorrow will also see heavy rainfall across southern England - but this should clear by mid-afternoon.
Is your area affected?
As Storm Lilian wreaks havoc across the country, here's a list of all the places likely to be affected:
Yellow wind warning
- Derbyshire
- Lincolnshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Darlington
- Durham
- Gateshead
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- Northumberland
- Redcar and Cleveland
- South Tyneside
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Sunderland
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Cheshire East
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Cumbria
- Greater Manchester
- Halton
- Lancashire
- Merseyside
- Warrington
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Gwynedd
- Isle of Anglesey
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- Kingston upon Hull
- North East Lincolnshire
- North Lincolnshire
- North Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- York
Yellow rain warning
- Angus
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Scottish Borders
The rest of the weekend will be dry and fine, though temperatures will be a little nippy.
But the north west will have to endure more showers and strong winds throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.
The RAC estimates 19.2 million leisure trips by car will be made over the weekend, with 3.2 million on Friday alone.
This is highest since the motoring services company began recording data for the summer bank holiday in 2015.
RAC Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said the adverse weather and large volume of expected trips represents "a perfect storm" for drivers.She said: "Anyone driving in areas impacted by Storm Lilian should try to avoid exposed coasts and higher routes where there's a greater chance of fallen branches and trees. It's vital to lower your speeds and leave plenty of extra stopping distance to allow yourself time to react quickly.
"Drivers should keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and take extra care when passing high-sided vehicles which can cause an unnerving buffeting effect when you're suddenly hit by the wind on the other side."
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