Thousands of people have been left without power as Storm Isha brings disruption to electricity and transport networks.
The United Kingdom was hit by a storm that brought heavy rainfall and wind gusts of 99mph. The Met Office issued wind warnings for the entire country.
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks reported that 45,000 customers were currently experiencing a power outage. Similarly, Electricity North West stated that numerous properties in north-west England were also affected and without electricity.
Over 170,000 properties in the Republic of Ireland were experiencing widespread power outages.
Transportation has been impacted by fallen trees, as per Traffic Scotland’s update that sections of the M9 and M74 were shut down during the night. Additionally, the southbound A1 at Thorntonloch was closed due to a flipped truck.
Strong winds caused the Tay Road Bridge, M48 Severn Bridge, and A66 in Durham and Cumbria (between the A1(M) and M6) to close. Additionally, the Humber Bridge, A19 Tees Flyover, and A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire were closed to vehicles that are susceptible to strong winds.
ScotRail services have been suspended since 7pm on Sunday and are not expected to resume until around noon on Monday as dozens of lines are closed due to fallen trees and flooding.
A representative from Network Rail stated that numerous engineers have been deployed, equipped with chainsaws and cherry pickers, to remove and fix the damage.
After completion, trains that demonstrate their route will be sent out prior to resuming passenger services.
The evening has been eventful, but both passengers and railway employees have remained unharmed. We are dedicated to restoring the railway as efficiently as possible.
On Monday, it was reported that lines in England and Wales have been cleared and it is expected that there will be a good service in most areas, according to the source.
East Midlands Railway has said delays and alterations to its services are likely, while no LNER trains will run north of Newcastle until noon.
Avanti West Coast cautioned about modifications and disruptions on Monday, advising passengers not to make any trips between Preston and Scotland until regular service is set to resume at 9am.
Currently, there are limitations set by air traffic control, resulting in the cancellation of flights and forcing numerous planes to change their course.
Organizations in Cumbria have announced their readiness for a potential emergency, resulting in the closure of the Sellafield nuclear site on Sunday as a precautionary measure.
A person was injured by falling debris when scaffolding became loose in Belfast. They were given medical attention at the location by emergency responders.
According to the Met Office, the strongest wind speed recorded during Storm Isha was 99mph at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland. Additionally, gusts of 90mph were reported at Capel Curig in Snowdonia on Sunday.
A rare wind warning for the north-eastern region of Scotland was in effect until 5am on Monday, while amber warnings were in place for most of the UK until 6am. Additionally, yellow warnings were issued for the entire country until noon.
A new alert has been issued for strong winds in Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and northern England starting at 4pm on Tuesday and lasting until noon on Wednesday.
The Northern Ireland Police Service stated that the current weather conditions were causing a strain on the 999 emergency system and advised individuals to report non-emergency situations through online channels or by dialing 101.
The Met Office has reported that Storm Isha, the ninth named storm of the season since it began in September, is forecasted to diminish throughout the day. However, it is anticipated that there will still be strong winds and a combination of sunny periods and occasional showers.
On Monday, the north and west regions are likely to experience the heaviest and most frequent showers, but they will ease up at night. However, there may still be some showers in north-west England, and the winds will also calm down.
The beginning of Tuesday will be sunny, but later there will be clouds and rain coming from the west, along with strong winds that may potentially reach severe gale levels.
Source: theguardian.com
