High winds have caused widespread travel disruption across England and Wales, with gusts reaching 63mph overnight.
The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for most of England and all of Wales, in place until 6pm on Monday. Inland gusts of up to 55mph are expected, while exposed coasts and hills could see winds as strong as 70mph.
At 3am, Aberdaron in northwest Wales recorded gusts of 63mph. By 7am, winds had reached 60mph at Crosby, near Liverpool, and 56mph at St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight.
The weather has forced major transport closures like; DFDS cancelled all Newhaven–Dieppe ferry services on Monday, Irish Ferries cancelled several routes, including Dublin–Holyhead, Dublin–Cherbourg, and Rosslare–Pembrok, the M48 Severn Bridge is closed in both directions, with traffic diverted to the Prince of Wales Bridge on the M4 while the Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire has been closed to high-sided vehicles.
Experts on weather patterns had warned of “significant travel disruption, especially on Monday” adding that local power cuts were possible before winds ease later in the day as the low-pressure system moves away.
The Met Office has advised people to prepare for disruption, check road conditions before travelling, and keep essentials such as torches, batteries, and phone chargers in case of power outages.
A separate yellow rain warning remains in place until 5pm on Monday for Donegal, Leitrim, and Sligo, according to Met Éireann.
The unsettled weather began on Sunday as low pressure swept in from the southwest, bringing strong winds and heavy rain through the night. While lighter winds are expected further north, the Northern Isles could still see gales for a time.
