Storm Isha brings chaos to UK with 90mph winds, causing disruptions nationwide

As the most powerful gusts struck western parts causing possible “danger to life”, the Meteorological Office issued a “tornado watch” zone for Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and northern England.

Such was concern about over the ferocity of the anticipated winds that people were warned to stay away from windows for fear of
flying debris.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said that they expected only the “odd isolated tornado mainly in western parts” but he warned: “They can cause some significant damage.”

Official guidance said there was a “good chance that power cuts may occur” as well as “damage to buildings such as tiles blown off roofs”.

Much of Britain was expected to wake up this morning to the fallout from the extreme weather system.

Alongside the great clear-up, travel will be hit by the knock-on effect.

This could disrupt hundreds of flights plus rail and ferry services – while grid technicians stood by to tackle power outages caused by high voltage lines being brought down in the storms.

In Scotland, all rail services were cancelled from 7pm yesterday while Heathrow had already grounded 38 planes and Dublin called off 102 flights.

The start-of-the-week commute is set to be a nightmare for millions with train and buses affected, meaning roads will be significantly busier than usual.

Motoring group the RAC urged drivers to consider delaying journeys, while train operators and airlines told people to stay away.

Met Office chiefs were forced to upgrade warnings, saying the ninth named storm of the season was likely to “affect everybody”.

Cumbria issued a major incident alert. Four inches of rain were expected in places, which could produce widespread flooding.

Two different amber warnings were in place across most of the country from 6pm yesterday to 6am today, stating that 70mph winds should be expected inland with gusts of 80mph on coasts.

A yellow wind warning also covered the nation, including parts of London and the South East, while four rain alerts were in place around the country.

Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “We’re expecting widespread gales. There’s the potential for danger to life.

“Large waves around coastal regions could bring some debris on to roads and trees could come down. We have a wind warning in place across the whole of the UK, it’s pretty unusual for the whole of the country to be under a blanket wind warning.”

In total, the Met Office issued six warnings covering the entire UK. Forecaster Ellie Glaisyer said: “It’s a very widespread storm and it’s going to be affecting everybody.

“Into Monday, the whole of the UK is covered by a warning, which is relatively rare.”

Electricity companies reported power cuts to thousands of homes across the country, including 5,000 in the North-West of England, 2,000 in Wales, 800 in Gloucestershire and several hundred in Cornwall. Operations at the Sellafield nuclear site had to be suspended last night due to severe weather conditions.

The plant is currently used to store the nation’s plutonium stockpile and high level radioactive waste, as well as other hazardous materials. It is also home to a number of old nuclear plants, including redundant power stations and reprocessing facilities that are currently being decommissioned.

The suspension allows the site in Seascale, Cumbria, to be shut down to prepare for the expected worsening weather.

Operations are expected to resume tomorrow and workers were told to attend work as normal. The freak weather front has been caused by cold Arctic air pushing south into North America making the jet stream, which flows from west to east, more active.

The storm comes after much of the UK thaws from an Arctic blast which produced sub-zero temperatures last week.

Network Rail said 50mph speed restrictions were imposed across most routes to keep passengers and trains safe from falling trees and debris blown on to tracks.

Network Rail Scotland, including Avanti West Coast, suspended all trains from 7pm due to the “high likelihood” of damage to the railway. Lines will remain closed this morning while each route is inspected by engineers for damage or fallen debris.

An NRS statement said: “This decision has been made to keep passengers and our people safe.”

East Midlands Railway said it expected “significant disruption”, South Western Railway has reduced services, LNER tweeted a statement, advising customers to avoid travelling north of Newcastle until 12.00 today.

British Airways said: “Like other airlines, we have had to make schedule adjustments due to the adverse weather conditions.”

Ferry companies operating out of Britain’s busiest cross-Channel ports are expected to slash services today. Lorry drivers were last night stuck in Anglesey with the storm closing the main Britannia Bridge, to the mainland, to all traffic.

A long stretch of the A5 in Snowdonia was blocked by severe flooding. Storm Isha, the ninth to rage into the UK since September, follows Storm Henk.

That unleashed New Year misery with gale force gusts and lashing rain, felling trees, downing power lines and bringing the travel network to its knees.

Last year Storms Agnes, Antoni and Gerrit wrought havoc. During a washout summer, trees were uprooted and rail services suspended while hundreds of thousands were left without power as 80mph winds battered Britain and 50mm of rain – almost half of the average rainfall for the month – fell in August.

Then Storm Antoni – the first of the season – unleashed severe wind, rain and thunderstorms.

Trees were uprooted across Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Cornwall while power cuts struck across Gloucestershire, Winds of 80mph were recorded in Berry Head, Devon, and 43mm of rain fell in Scarborough, North Yorkshire – or almost half of the average rainfall for the month.

The record number of named storms in one season is 11 in 2015/16.

The great storm of 1987 was caused by a cyclone overnight of October 15 and 16 with hurricane-force winds devastating the country, causing casualties and widespread damage.

Worst hit areas were Greater London, Kent, the East Anglian coast and the Home Counties.

Woods, parks, roads, and railways were strewn with fallen trees while schools had to close.

At least 22 people were killed in England and France. The highest measured gust in the UK was 120mph at Shoreham in West Sussex.

Lorry drivers were stuck in Anglesey last night because of the storm which closed the main Britannia Bridge, between the island and the mainland, to all traffic.

North Wales police said :”The A5 Menai Suspension Bridge remains open, however, the weight restrictions for anything over 7.5t remain. Our officers are patrolling the area to ensure all motorists comply with this order.

“Vehicles that are unable to leave the island are advised to head to Junction 2 Parc Cybi. Those on the mainland are being advised to delay their travel until wind speeds have lowered.”

Meanwhile a long stretch of the A5 in Snowdonia was blocked by severe flooding.

Police said :”The A5 is currently closed between Capel Curig and Pentrefoelas due to severe flooding. Please avoid these areas.”

London North Eastern Railway, tweeted a statement, and said: “Due to #Stormisha customers travelling north of #Newcastle are advised to avoid travelling from 19.00 unday 21 Jan until 12.00 Monday 22 Jan.

“All other customers are advised to check before they travel.”

Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria has closed due to Storm Isha.

It said in a statement: “Owing to severe weather warnings related to Storm Isha, operations at Sellafield have been suspended.”

“This is a precautionary step which allows us to safely shut down our operational plants to prepare for predicted worsening weather conditions this evening.”

“We have also sent some people home early so that they could travel before the weather conditions worsened. Operations are expected to resume tomorrow and employees are currently advised to attend work as normal.”