Police declare ‘major incident’ as Storm Gerrit batters Britain: MILES of cars are trapped in blizzards on Sco
- ** Have YOU been hit by the storm and are you stranded on roads or at stations including King’s Cross? Email your stories and pictures to: [email protected] **
Police in Scotland have declared a ‘major incident’ as Britain is battered by up to 80mph gales, torrential rain and blizzards.
Disruption caused by Storm Gerrit has brought misery for travellers on their way home from the Christmas[4] holidays across the country as high speed winds and heavy rain cause delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport.
Scottish authorities have warned people not to travel after up to 400 cars and lorries were stranded for up to four hours in heavy snow on the A9 at Dalnaspidal in Perthshire after the main road was struck by a blizzard.
Train operators have advised customers not to travel as many services into Scotland have been suspended. Some rail passengers were left stranded yesterday until this morning and were told to book hotels which they can claim back.
British Airways[5] has cancelled 18 flights from London[6]‘s Heathrow[7] due to air traffic control restrictions. This includes flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey and Manchester, and Barcelona, Berlin[8], Madrid and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Severe flooding in Scotland has also forced residents to flee their homes in Cupar, with some rescued by emergency services teams using specialist boats brought in from Perth[9] and Stirling.
The Met Office[10] imposed nine warnings until the early hours of Thursday with the storm also set to bring three inches of rain and eight inches of snow. It comes as:
- LNER, Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry all imposed ‘do not travel’ warnings;
- British Airways cancelled 18 flights at London Heathrow due to the weather;
- The Port of Dover in Kent warned drivers of three-hour queues;
- Wind gusts peaked at 106mph and there were a reported 2,852 power cuts.
Meteorologists also warned of delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges, flooding on roads, possible power cuts and disruption to ferries and planes.
** Have YOU been hit by the storm and are you stranded on roads or at stations including King’s Cross? Email your stories and pictures to: [email protected] **
The main A85 trunk road at Glen Ogle was down to single carriage way with the southbound lane closed due to heavy snow and HGV’s stuck on the steep incline
Queues on the M25 in Swanley, Kent as people head home from their Christmas holidays
A train arrives into Saltcoats Station along the sea front in Scotland as high waves batters the sides of the track during Storm Gerrit
Crews work to clear flood waters from the M9 at Stirling on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit rages
A person sits on a bench facing the sea, during strong winds in Brighton on Wednesday
Severe flooding in Scotland has also forced residents to flee their homes in Cupar, with some rescued by emergency services teams
Some scaffolding collapsed near a Wilko store in the town centre of Swanley in Kent, on Wednesday after being battered by powerful winds generated by Storm Gerri
Vehicles stuck in floodwater in Old Kilpatrick, Scotland, on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit hits Britain
The ferocity of Gerrit – which means ‘brave with the spear’ in Dutch – caught many travellers by surprise as they returned from their Christmas holidays, while weather forecasters issued a series of yellow warnings.
A rainfall gauge at the Great Langdale Valley in the Lake District has seen the highest accumulation so far, with 77.6mm – nearly half the usual 178mm monthly rainfall for December, the Met Office said.
The fastest recorded wind gusts so far are 86mph at Inverbervie on the north-east coast of Scotland, 84mph at Fair Isle and 83mph at Capel Curig, north Wales, the forecaster said. Around 2-3cm of snow have fallen in Aviemore in the Cairngorms.
Drivers were at a standstill on the A9 at Dalnaspidal in Perthshire due to blizzard conditions with snowploughs unable to help because they were stuck behind cars.
Highland Council declared a major incident because of ‘miles of vehicles’ stuck in ‘very severe conditions’, with agencies now prioritising the most vulnerable drivers.
The same road was also hit by severe flooding 30 miles away at Ballinluig with Police Scotland urging people to avoid the route amid ‘challenging weather conditions’.
Motorist Jeremy Bedford said he had been ‘stationary southbound on the A9 near Dalwhinney for nearly four hours’, asking: ‘Should we be planning to spend the night here?’ Shaun Dellenty added: ‘Huge lines of stationary traffic and severe gales and drifting snow. Not moved for two and a half hours. Seen one snowplough so far.’
Carlos Rodriguez tweeted: ‘A9 in Scotland traffic has been stuck for hours, people broke out the snow shovels to clear out the road themselves.’ And X user Blanchy13 said: ‘Two hours stuck so far. Two kids asking every two minutes when we can move.’
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said around 27,000 homes have suffered power cuts on Wednesday as fallen trees, branches, and other debris have damaged power lines.
It added that as of 4:30pm on Wednesday, power had been resored to around 8,500 properties, while over 18,500 were still without power and ‘further disruption’ is expected across the east coast.
The Scottish Premiership football match between Rangers and Ross County at Ibrox had to be postponed because the away team were unable to travel to Glasgow.
Traffic battles through blizzards on the A9 near Aviemore as Storm Gerrit hits Scotland on Wednesday
Waves batter Blyth Lighthouse on the North East Coast as Storm Gerrit hits the UK
A view of heavy traffic on the M62 – the highest motorway in the UK – during Storm Gerrit
Drivers at a standstill on the A9 at Dalnaspidal in Perthshire on Wednesday due to blizzard conditions
A video posted to X shows the devastation caused by Storm Gerrit in Scotland as high winds uprooted trees and lifted a huge part of the tarmac with it
The trees can be seen almos on their side as the ground was ripped beneath by strong winds from Storm Gerrit
A queue of traffic on the A9 near Dalwhinnie where hundreds of cars became stuck on Wednesday
Residents in Cupar, Fife, Scotland, are forced wade through flooded streets as they flee their homes due to severe flooding
Wet conditions for drivers on the M40 close to Warwick on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit hits Britain
Heavy snow on the A9 at Drumochter in the Highlands causes treacherous conditions on Wednesday
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit causes chaos
The M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire is closed in both directions due to strong winds, National Highways said.
Drivers on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, advised as an alternative route, are facing 90-minute delays after a crash.
Ferry operator Red Funnel, which provides services between Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight, cancelled its Red Jet passenger services due to strong winds.
Hovercraft services between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight were also suspended.
Eighteen BA return domestic trips to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey and Manchester, and to Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid and Paris Charles de Gaulle in mainland Europe, were axed due to air traffic control restrictions.
Those with pre-booked tickets for travel between Preston and either Edinburgh[11] or Glasgow[12] can board trains on Thursday or Friday.
Flooding between Lockerbie and Carlisle means all rail lines are blocked between those stations.
A ScotRail train en route from Dundee to Glasgow was severly damaged by a falling tree on Wednesday caused by Storm Gerrit. Pictures show the carnage caused to the front of the train, with the driver reportedly unharmed following the horrific incident.
A tree also fell on the line and caught fire near Dumbarton East Station in West Dunbartonshire, Network Rail Scotland said, closing the line in both directions.
The train operator added that disprution to its services will continue on Thursday as maintainence crews will ‘need to inspect all currrently shut routes’ for damage caused by flooding and fallen trees.
It said in an update on Wednesday: ‘Tomorrow, we’ll need to inspect all currently shut routes for damage caused by flooding/fallen trees – this’ll take several hours and can only be done in daylight. Disruption will continue until each line is confirmed safe to reopen. @ScotRail @CalSleeper @LNER @CrossCountryUK’
A ScotRail InterCity 125 locomotive was severly damaged by a falling tree on Wednesday caused by Storm Gerrit, as it was en route from Dundee to Glasgow
The driver is reportedly unharmed following the horrendous incident
People brave the weather as they cross the Millennium Bridge in London on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit brings strong winds and heavy rain to many parts of the UK
A woman sporting a poncho over her winter jacket braves the wicked weather across the Millennium Bridge in London on Wednesday
A tree fell onto the railway line in the Dumbarton area on Wednesday which then caught fire
Police are in attendance as flood water is cleared from the M9 at Stirling on Wednesday
Emergency services have rescued some people from their homes in Cupar, using specialist boats brought in from Perth and Stirling
People walk on a sea wall at high tide, during strong winds on Wednesday in Brighton
Workers try to clear the A82 road from flooding on Wednesday in Dumbarton, Scotland
A horse stands next to floodwaters, near Watton, Yorkshire on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit brings strong winds and heavy rain to the UK
An abandoned car in a roadside ditch between Wolfhill and Burrelton in Perthshire on Wednesday
London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which runs services between London and Scotland on the East Coast Main Line, revealed on Wednesday that trains had ‘significant delays’ across its entire 956-mile network between King’s Cross and the Highlands.
Problems for LNER included flooding between Leeds and Harrogate and Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh, plus overhead wire damage north of the border.
It said: ‘Due to severe weather customers are advised not to travel on Wednesday as services are likely to be subject to significant delays and short notice alterations or cancellations.’
Severe weather caused chaos across the network, with nine ScotRail routes facing speed restrictions while Northern and Transport for Wales services were badly hit.
CrossCountry had a ‘do not travel warning’ in place north of Newcastle; Avanti West Coast said ‘do not travel’ north of Preston following flooding between Lockerbie and Carlisle which was blocking all lines and also impacting TransPennine Express trains; and there were also issues caused by train staff shortages and track obstructions.
And the Port of Dover in Kent said there was a three-hour wait time ahead of French border controls for tourist traffic as of noon on Wednesday – up from just one hour at 7.30am.
Officials later said that the ‘additional processing time on Wednesday is a result of staff sickness within Police aux Frontières’, adding: ‘All teams are working hard to get everyone on their way as quickly as possible.’
Separately, there was major disruption to Thameslink and East Midlands Railway trains between London St Pancras and St Albans due to a signalling system fault[13]; and Southeastern services were badly delayed by over-running engineering works.
Snowploughs are struggling to keep the A9 open at Slochd on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit hits Scotland
Images of the A9 chaos in the Highlands on Wednesday taken from Bear Scotland’s control cameras
The A9 also faced flooding at Ballinluig as Police Scotland urged motorists to avoid the area
People get close to the waves on the promenade at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear on Wednesday
A tractor with a snow plough makes its way through Allenheads in Northumberland on Wednesday
A motorist drives through floodwater on the outskirts of Billericay in Essex on Wednesday
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
Avanti West Coast rail passengers at Preston station face major disruption on Wednesday amid flooding
Storm damage caused by strong winds at Fort William in the Scottish Highlands on Wednesday
Delayed passengers wait for updates at London St Pancras station on Wednesday
The Environment Agency has issued 17 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, across England: six in the Midlands, nine in the north of England and one in Devon.
There are also 152 flood alerts, indicating where flooding is possible, in place across most parts of the country, except for London.
Gusts peaked at 106mph over the Cairngorm summit on Wednesday, with the next highest at 76mph at Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire then 69mph at Stornoway in the Western Isles. The strongest on mainland England was 44mph at St Bees Head in Cumbria.
And thousands of people in England were without power on Wednesday, reported Sky News which quoted data from PowerOutages.com that put the total at 2,852.
The Met Office imposed nine warnings on Wednesday and Thrusday as follows:
- Rain – Wales – Midnight until 4pm on Wednesday;
- Rain and wind – Northern Ireland – 2am until 10am on Wednesday;
- Wind – Southern England – 3am until 6pm on Wednesday;
- Rain – South West Scotland and northern England – 3am until 6pm Wednesday;
- Wind – Northern Scotland – 3am until 11.59pm on Wednesday;
- Rain – North West England – 3am until 6pm on Wednesday;
- Rain and snow – Northern Scotland – 6am until 9pm on Wednesday;
- Wind – Western Wales and North West England – 6pm on Wednesday until 3am on Thursday;
- Wind and snow – Shetland Islands – 9pm on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday.
ScotRail said major flooding in parts of the Highlands meant there would be no trains between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh until at least January 3, while it also warned speed restrictions would cause delays on nine routes until 9am on Thursday.
The affected ScotRail routes were between Glasgow Queen Street, Oban or Mallaig; Inverness and Wick; Edinburgh or Aberdeen and Inverness; Montrose and Inverurie; Edinburgh and Perth or Dundee; Edinburgh and Glenrothes with Thornton; Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen or Inverness; Glasgow Central and Wemyss Bay or Ardrossan Harbour or Largs or Prestwick Town; and Glasgow Central and Carlisle.
The Environment Agency issued flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red) across England
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) revealed services are facing ‘significant delays’ on Wednesday
Avanti West Coast said ‘do not travel’ north of Preston following flooding north of Carlisle
Transport for Wales cancelled all trains between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog; imposed a late start-up for services from Shrewsbury to Swansea and Llandrindod; and warned flooding between Hereford and Leominster could cause cancellations or long delays.
UK rail disruption amid Storm Gerrit
ScotRail: Major flooding means no trains between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh until at least January 3
London North Eastern Railway (LNER): ‘Do not travel’ warning issuesd as services face ‘significant delays’ following flooding between Leeds and Harrogate and Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh, plus overhead wire damage north of the border
ScotRail: Speed restrictions on nine these routes until 9am on Thursday: between Glasgow Queen Street, Oban or Mallaig; Inverness and Wick; Edinburgh or Aberdeen and Inverness; Montrose and Inverurie; Edinburgh and Perth or Dundee; Edinburgh and Glenrothes with Thornton; Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen or Inverness; Glasgow Central and Wemyss Bay or Ardrossan Harbour or Largs or Prestwick Town; and Glasgow Central and Carlisle.
Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express: Flooding between Lockerbie and Carlisle is blocking all lines
ScotRail: Tree fell on line and caught fire near Dumbarton East station
Transport for Wales: All trains between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog cancelled; late start-up for services from Shrewsbury to Swansea and Llandrindod; and delays between Hereford and Leominster due to floods
South Western Railway: Disruption through Clapham Junction due to a signalling problem
Southern and South Western Railway: Delays through Havant due to a track obstruction in the Bedhampton area
Southeastern: Disruption between London and Kent stations due to engineering works not being finished on time in the Nunhead area
Thameslink: No trains between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks due to overrunning engineering works
East Midlands Railway and Thameslink: Fault with the signalling system between St Albans and London St Pancras cancelled or delayed trains
CrossCountry: Cancelled services between Nottingham and Cardiff Central due to shortage of train drivers
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A tree fell on the line and caught fire near Dumbarton East station, closing the line in Scotland in both directions, while those on Southern and South Western Railway faced delays through Havant in Hampshire due to an ‘obstruction’ on the track in the Bedhampton area.
Police Scotland said officers in Dundee dealt with a collision on the A90 near Inchture, adding: ‘Please slow down and drive to the weather conditions.’
Meanwhile a section of the A82 which runs between Glasgow and Inverness via Fort William was closed due to multiple trees blocking the route in heavy snow.
The M48 Severn Bridge was shut in both directions between junctions one for Aust and two Chepstow due to strong winds, with drivers urged to use the M4 Prince Of Wales Bridge as a diversion.
Traffic Scotland said the A82 at Milton near Glasgow was closed on Wednesday in both directions due to flooding, while Carmarthenshire Roads Policing told motorists that a tree had fallen on the B4308 between Cwmbach and Farriers which had also taken out a power line.
In South Wales, Gwent Police said emergency services were dealing with a crash on Mountain Road in Cefn Golau.
And on the Isle of Wight, Hovertravel said hovercraft services were cancelled on Wednesday ‘due to adverse weather’.
There is also disruption on the ferry network in Scotland, with NorthLink services across the Pentland Firth to Orkney axed as a result of the weather.
CalMac ferries are also subject to delays and suspension across the west coast, with those travelling urged to check if their services are operating.
In Hampshire, Forestry England said all facilities were closed at the Alice Holt Forest site on Wednesday due to high winds, adding: ‘We’re sorry to ask people not to visit Alice Holt Forest today.’
National Trust properties across the UK were shut due to the high winds including Croome in Worcestershire, Cotehele in Cornwall, Bodnant Garden in Conwy and Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland.
Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: ‘Storm Gerrit will run towards western UK on Wednesday and bring with it potential impacts for much of the UK.
‘Winds across southern coastal areas of England will be strong, possibly peaking around 70mph on exposed coastlines, but more widely around 50 to 60 mph within the warning area.
‘Rain is an additional hazard from Storm Gerrit, with active weather fronts leading to a wet day for many.
‘Snow is also likely to cause problems for some northern areas: only briefly for a few upland routes across the Pennines and southern Scotland overnight and early on Wednesday, but more widely to the north of the Central Lowlands later in the day.
The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit causes chaos
Wet conditions on the M62 motorway near Eggborough in North Yorkshire on Wednesday
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
A woman walks through flooding on the A82 in Dumbarton on Wednesday amid torrential rain
Rail passengers face disruption at London Waterloo station on Wednesday following a track obstruction
Information signs at London St Pancras station showing cancelled trains on Wednesday
People get close to the waves on the promenade at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear on Wednesday
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
Avanti West Coast rail passengers at Preston station face major disruption on Wednesday amid flooding
A woman walks with her dog beneath dark clouds as the storm hits Crosby in Merseyside on Wednesday
People walk on Westminster Bridge in London on Wednesday as strong winds hit Britain
A fallen tree blocks the road on Three Mile Lane in Keele, Staffordshire, on Wednesday
Queues on the M25 in Swanley, Kent on Wednesday as people head home from their Christmas holidays
A flooded driveway near the East Yorkshire village of Watton on Wednesday amid Storm Gerrit
The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit causes chaos
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
Snow on the A82 on Wednesday at Altnafeadh in the Highlands between Glasgow and Inverness
A couple walk in the rain near Haig Eggborough in North Yorkshire on Wednesday
‘Here around 10 to possibly 20cm of snow may affect some of the highest routes, this combining with very strong winds to lead to some difficult travel conditions. At lower levels a combination of heavy rain and very strong winds will dominate.’
UK road closures due to Storm Gerrit
- A90 near Inchture: Officers in Dundee are dealing with a collision, adding: ‘Please slow down and drive to the weather conditions.’
- A82 near Inverlochy: Major road running between Glasgow and Inverness via Fort William is closed due to multiple trees blocking the route in heavy snow.
- M48 Severn Bridge: Shut in both directions between junctions one for Aust and two Chepstow due to strong winds, with drivers urged to use the M4 Prince Of Wales Bridge as a diversion
- A82 at Milton: Road near Glasgow is closed in both directions due to flooding
- B4308 between Cwmbach and Farriers: Carmarthenshire Roads Policing says a tree has fallen on the road and also took out a power line
- Mountain Road in Cefn Golau: Gwent Police says emergency services are dealing with a crash
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Also on Wednesday, thousands of airline passengers risked missing flights due to multiple signalling failures causing disruption to trains.
Operator East Midlands Railway said the issue was preventing it from running services between London St Pancras and Luton.
A Thameslink service calling at the airport was delayed by nearly two hours.
Rail services are expected to be disrupted for the rest of Wednesday due to the fault between St Pancras and St Albans.
Thameslink issued an alert to passengers which said: ‘Please do not attempt travel between Bedford and London Bridge until further notice.
‘The earlier disruption caused by multiple signal failures has now reoccurred. Due to the level of disruption, passengers are advised to delay travelling until later.
‘If you do decide to travel, you will need to use alternative means on some or all of your journey, and you will need to allow an additional 60 minutes to travel.’
A depot was also affected, causing delays to trains due to operate early morning services.
Speaking about flight disruption at Heathrow on Wednesday, a British Airways spokesman said: ‘As a result of air traffic control restrictions put in place because of Storm Gerrit, we have had to make some adjustments to our schedule today.
‘We have apologised to our customers for any disruption to their travel plans and our teams are working hard to get them on their way as quickly as possible.’
In addition, there was disruption on South Western Railway trains through Clapham Junction in South West London due to a separate signalling problem.
Rail passengers also faced a series of further problems that did not appear to be related to the storm.
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
A woman walks through flooding on the A82 in Dumbarton on Wednesday amid torrential rain
Shoppers walk through the rain in Birmingham city centre on Wednesday to take a look at the sales
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
Stormy conditions on Tynemouth Longsands beach in Tyne and Wear on Wednesday
People walk on Westminster Bridge in London on Wednesday as strong winds hit Britain
Information signs at London St Pancras station showing cancelled trains on Wednesday
The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit causes chaos
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
A fallen tree blocks the road on Three Mile Lane in Keele, Staffordshire, on Wednesday
Racegoers attempt to shelter from the weather at Chepstow in Monmouthshire on Wednesday
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
A flooded driveway near the East Yorkshire village of Watton on Wednesday amid Storm Gerrit
There was disruption due to engineering works not being finished on time in the Nunhead area of South East London – affecting Southeastern services between the capital and Kent, and cancelling Thameslink trains between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks.
Meanwhile CrossCountry cancelled services between Nottingham and Cardiff Central due to a shortage of train drivers.
It comes on top of pre-planned rail closures including London Paddington which has been shut since Christmas Eve with no Heathrow Express or direct Elizabeth line services.
On the Elizabeth line platforms at Paddington are open for services to and from Abbey Wood and Shenfield. There is no Elizabeth line between Paddington and Ealing Broadway.
Transport for London (TfL) also has pre-planned part closures on the London Overground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) on Wednesday.
London Victoria station also has no Southeastern services between until January 2, while Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street and Norwich are being disrupted through the Chelmsford area until New Year’s Day.
The Met Office said Gerrit – the seventh named storm of the current UK storm season – was named as a warning to people coming home after the holidays.
Its meteorologist Simon Partridge said on Wednesday: ‘Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that.’
A storm is named when it is deemed to have the potential to cause medium or high impacts on the UK and/or Ireland.
Shoppers walk through the rain in Birmingham city centre on Wednesday to take a look at the sales
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
Information signs at London St Pancras station showing delayed trains on Wednesday
Flooding at Tophill Low Nature Reserve in East Yorkshire on Wednesday amid Storm Gerrit
People walk along the Southbank in London on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit hits Britain
A tree fell onto the railway line in the Dumbarton area on Wednesday which then caught fire
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
Workers try to clear the A82 road from flooding in Dumbarton on Wednesday amid heavy rain
People walk on Westminster Bridge in London on Wednesday as strong winds hit Britain
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit causes chaos
Betting stalls struggle with the weather at Chepstow Racecourse in Monmouthshire on Wednesday
Dover ferry passengers face three-hour delays
Ferry passengers are facing three-hour delays at the Port of Dover on Wednesday.
People arriving for cross-Channel sailings are being forced to wait that long to pass through French border controls, the Kent port said.
It added: ‘We are working hard to get you on your way as quickly as possible.’
Those who miss booked ferries are being put onto the next sailing with space available.
The port is facing high demand as thousands of people make post-Christmas trips.
Travellers are being advised to check their ferry operator’s website or social media accounts for travel updates.
Enhanced passport checks by French border officials Police Aux Frontieres (PAF) following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU have significantly increased processing times.
Port bosses have taken a series of measures aimed at minimising queues, but they often build up during peak periods.
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The Met Office and Met Eireann launched the scheme in 2015 to name storms as part of efforts to raise awareness of extreme weather events.
Mr Partridge said wet and windy weather will cover ‘pretty much the whole of the UK’, with significant snowfall in parts of Scotland.
A yellow rain and snow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm across much of Scotland on Wednesday.
‘There are wind warnings out for the south of England, across the English Channel coast,’ Mr Partridge added.
‘But we also have wind warnings in force for parts of western Wales, north-west England, Northern Ireland, northern Scotland and the Northern Isles.’
He said only the central section of the UK does not have a wind warning.
Wind warning areas can expect gusts of 50 to 60mph, with up to 70mph on high ground and exposed coasts. Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely, the Met Office said.
‘In terms of rain, we have rain warnings out for the whole of Northern Ireland, western Wales, north-west England, and then there’s a combined sort of rain and snow warning for Scotland,’ Mr Partridge added.
Anywhere above 200 metres (650ft) in Scotland and the Northern Isles is likely to see some snow, he added.
Network Rail Scotland warned passengers speed restrictions would be in place on Wednesday and to check for cancellations.
ScotRail customer operations director Phil Campbell said: ‘Unfortunately, we expect disruption to our services due to the adverse weather, and customers can expect some changes to their journeys.
Police Scotland said officers in Dundee dealt with a collision on the A90 near Inchture on Wednesday
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
Shoppers wait outside a Zara store in Birmingham city centre in the rain on Wednesday during the sales
A tree fell onto the railway line in the Dumbarton area on Wednesday which then caught fire
A wet start to the day in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on Wednesday as Storm Gerrit hits the UK
Passengers at London King’s Cross station on Wednesday amid major disruption to LNER services
A Traffic Scotland image of snow on the A85 road in Glen Ogle, Stirlingshire, on Wednesday
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
A lorry travels along the snowy A68 at Soutra on Wednesday, south east of Edinburgh
Snow on Wednesday on the A9 at Drumochter, a mountain pass road in the Scottish Highlands
The swollen River Severn as flood defences are put in place at Ironbridge in Shropshire on Wednesday
‘We will be working closely with our colleagues at Network Rail Scotland to ensure we are able to keep people moving as much as possible, but customers should also expect that their journeys will take longer than usual, and there could be some cancellations. ‘
People affected by Storm Gerrit are urged to contact insurers
People and businesses affected by damage from Storm Gerrit should contact their insurer as soon as possible for help and advice, said the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
The ABI said the priority for insurers will be to support customers affected by the storm to recover as quickly as possible.
ABI spokesperson Malcolm Tarling said: ‘Whenever and wherever bad weather strikes, insurers are ready to help their customers. Storm Gerrit could be a nasty, expensive and inconvenient experience for some, and the priority for insurers will be to help affected homeowners, businesses and drivers recover as soon as possible. If you suffer damage to your property, contact your insurer as soon as you can for help and advice.’
Anyone needing to travel should regularly check and follow transport advice, leave as much extra time as they can for the journey and drive with care – for example, in heavy rain and wind allow sufficient space from the vehicle in front, the ABI said.
Comprehensive motor insurance policies will cover storm damage to vehicles.
If someone’s home is affected by storm damage, they should contact their insurer as soon as possible. Many insurers have 24-hour emergency helplines. If necessary, people may arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop any damage getting worse, but the ABI said they should speak to their insurer first.
If someone has to arrange emergency repairs themselves, they should tell their insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of their claim.
The ABI said people should not be in a rush to throw away damaged items, unless they are a danger to health, as these may be able to be repaired or restored. Insurers will be able to advise their customers on this.
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The operator added: ‘We’re asking anyone with garden equipment such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don’t blow on to the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.’
The RAC has warned drivers not to underestimate the dangers of high winds.
Spokesperson Simon Williams said: ‘While high-sided vehicles are most at risk of being blown off course, car drivers can also be affected when they pass lorries on the motorway and are suddenly hit by the full force of the wind on the other side.
‘Keeping both hands on the wheel at all times is the best advice, along with watching other vehicles very carefully so as not to get caught out by any unexpected changes in course.
‘Getting to motorways and major roads may also be more difficult. Drivers should reduce their speeds and be on the look-out for fallen branches, and even trees, along with other debris.’
The RNLI urged those visiting the coast to exercise extreme caution, particularly along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.
Gareth Morrison, RNLI water safety partner, said: ‘The RNLI advises staying a safe distance away from the water and cliff edges as the conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea. It is not worth risking your life.’
Stein Connelly from Transport Scotland said: ‘The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for large parts of the country.
‘We’re seeing rain across south-west Scotland, rain and wind across the central belt, and also some snow across northern Scotland.
‘This type of weather isn’t unusual for this time of year, but yellow warnings do mean the potential for significant travel disruption and that’s what we’re seeing today across the road and rail network with ferry services also impacted.
‘We have well-established plans with partners to respond to these conditions which are currently being progressed.
‘Our operating companies are working hard in adverse conditions to remove fallen trees and clear roads of snow currently.’
He urged people to plan ahead and to drive to conditions.
He advised drivers to check the Traffic Scotland website for problems on trunk roads and those using public transport to check with their operators.
Storm Gerrit comes less than a week since Storm Pia lashed parts of the UK in the countdown to the festive season.
Winds of more than 80mph battered northern parts of the UK, with gusts of 81mph recorded at Brizlee Wood near Alnwick, Northumberland, and at Baltasound on Shetland, with 70mph gusts reported elsewhere in the North East of England.
** Have YOU been hit by the storm and are you stranded on roads or at stations including King’s Cross? Email your stories and pictures to: [email protected] **
References
- ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Natasha Anderson (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Dan Woodland (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Christmas (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ British Airways (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Heathrow (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Berlin (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Perth (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Edinburgh (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Glasgow (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ major disruption to Thameslink and East Midlands Railway trains between London St Pancras and St Albans due to a signalling system fault (www.dailymail.co.uk)