Power Cuts and Train Cancellations as Storm Darragh Hits the UK
Tens of thousands of people across the UK were left without power on Saturday morning after Storm Darragh struck, bringing strong winds and causing significant pre-Christmas travel disruption.
The UK Met Office had issued a rare red weather alert for high winds, in effect from Friday night to Saturday morning (0300 to 1100 GMT), impacting parts of Wales and southwest England. In response, the government issued a siren-like emergency alert to three million residents in the affected areas, urging them to stay indoors on Friday night.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the storm as a “challenging situation.” He advised people who received the emergency alerts to heed the warnings, emphasizing the importance of following safety advice.
Storm Darragh, the fourth named storm of the season, is also bringing heavy rain, with more than 100 flood warnings and alerts currently in effect across the UK. In Wales, the Met Office reported gusts of up to 150 km/h (93 mph), which caused power outages for over 50,000 people. In total, power cuts affected 86,000 homes across England, Scotland, and Wales, according to the Energy Networks Association.
Train services on the northern coast of Wales were suspended by Network Rail due to a fallen tree blocking the tracks. Additionally, several bridges in southern England and Wales were closed for safety reasons.
An amber warning, indicating a potential risk to life and property, remains in effect for a larger portion of the UK and Northern Ireland until Saturday night.
