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A woman had to be rescued from her car after it was swept downstream while crossing a ford during Storm Bram.
Winds of up to 90mph and heavy rain brought disruption to the UK on Tuesday, with trains cancelled, flights grounded and thousands of properties left without power.
The Severn Bridge connecting England and Wales was also forced to shut because of “hazardous” winds, diverting traffic to the Prince of Wales bridge where only one lane was open because of roadworks which caused long tailbacks.
The Severn Bridge reopened after a few hours, while the Prince of Wales Bridge will close overnight for emergency repairs.
In Hampshire, a driver entered a crossing at Moyles Court, near Ringwood, before realising it was too deep.
As she attempted to reverse out of the ford, the surging water dragged her Ford Focus down the stream.
A member of the public realised the danger she was in and helped get the woman out of the floating car.
In Dorset, four people were also pulled from their vehicles in Thornford, after multiple cars became stuck on a flooded road.
Parts of Devon saw a month’s worth of rainfall in the past 24 hours.
The total monthly average rainfall for the month of December is around 125mm in Devon, according to the Met Office.
But the Met Office has revealed that White Barrow in Devon has received 125.3mm over the past 24 hours.
There was flooding and a crash involving multiple vehicles on part of the M66 in Greater Manchester, which was shut southbound while crews cleared the water.
The Met Office previously warned that wind gusts of 70 to 80mph were expected, with some places potentially experiencing gusts of up to 90mph.
An amber warning for rain in Northern Ireland, affecting County Antrim, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry and County Tyrone was in place from 2pm to 8pm on Tuesday.
It warned of power cuts and mobile phone coverage being affected, the possibility of damage to buildings and homes with roofs blown off, and power lines brought down.
The amber weather warning in Scotland, covering the Highlands, Eilean Siar and Argyll and Bute, was in place from 4pm on Tuesday until 3am Wednesday.
“Storm Bram will bring a spell of very strong and disruptive winds to northwest Scotland on Tuesday night,” the Met Office said.
It warned of the potential for large waves and beach material being thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads and properties.
Flying debris could also result in a danger to life, it said.
At Dublin Airport, 91 flights were cancelled with a further 10 flights diverted to other airports.
As of Tuesday evening, there were 37 flood warnings and 148 flood alerts in England, 20 flood warnings and 48 flood alerts in Wales and 33 flood warnings and 15 flood alerts in Scotland.
A map by the National Grid showed power cuts affecting areas of Wales, south-west England and the Midlands.
Storm Bram will slowly pull away northwards from Britain on Wednesday, leaving behind mostly dry conditions with sunny spells.
The Met Office said the wind would remain, especially in the north, while showers could be expected in the west as well as in the far north.
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Drivers have been urged not to take any chances in the treacherous conditions brought on by Storm Bram
Alice Simpson from RAC encouraged drivers to consider staying at home.
She said: “Strong winds can make vehicles harder to control, so it’s best that drivers slow down and keep a firm grip on the wheel. Rural and coastal routes will feel the worst of the gusts, with fallen branches or even trees likely to cause disruption.
“We recommend drivers check local forecasts and consider delaying non-essential trips until the storm passes. Above all, it’s important not to take any chances in these conditions, as fierce winds, torrential rain and the prospect of renewed flooding are a potentially dangerous blend.”
Winds are expected to peak this evening, with gusts of 80mph likely and the most exposed spots, such as the Outer Hebrides, potentially seeing gusts up to 90 mph.
The strongest winds will then move northwards into Shetland and Orkney overnight into Wednesday, before gradually easing during the morning.
A blustery evening for all as #StormBram continues to bring very strong winds, especially for those in the north where further spells of heavy rain are expected 🌧️
Elsewhere, clear skies will develop for a time, before heavy showers move into the west tonight ☔ pic.twitter.com/wAgRQlfKH3
The Tyne Bridge is to be closed to HGV’s and high sided vehicles because of Storm Bram.
Traffic Scotland said the closure would last from 6pm to 2am.
Road users have been advised to use caution when travelling on the A1 at Tyne Bridge.
The Prince of Wales Bridge linking England and Wales on the M4 will be fully closed in both directions tonight.
National Highways said the closure, which will run from 8pm to 6am, was needed to remove 35 lamp posts on the bridge which are at risk of collapse.
Roadworks has meant that one lane has been open in each direction today, causing long tailbacks.
Approximately 54,000 homes, farms and businesses across the Republic of Ireland are without power.
ESB Networks said the outages at 4pm were predominantly in counties Wexford, Cork, Tipperary, Kildare, Dublin, Meath and Westmeath.
With weather warnings still in place, the electricity company said further power outages can be expected throughout the evening.
Keith Leonard, national director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, said: “The conditions associated with orange level wind warnings can be very dangerous.
“Potential impacts include the possibility of structural damage, fallen trees and flying debris – presenting a risk to both life and property.
“Driving can be particularly hazardous in these conditions, so I’m asking all drivers to anticipate strong cross winds and other hazards such as falling or fallen trees.
“High-sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds – so please slow down and give extra space to pedestrians and cyclists.”
Storm Bram has grounded a total of 91 flights at Dublin Airport so far.
As of 4pm, 49 inbound and 42 outbound flights had been cancelled, while around 10 flights have diverted to other airports.
A spokesman for the airport said: “Challenging wind conditions have meant some aircraft have been unable to land and take-off at Dublin Airport for extended periods this afternoon.
“Further disruption is possible later this evening as wind speeds are expected to remain strong.”
National Rail has warned passengers that they may experience “severe overcrowding” on TransPennine Express trains because of major disruption on its network.
The operator said services between Edinburgh and Carlisle would not run after 1pm in both directions, while those travelling between Glasgow Central, Edinburgh and Preston should avoid travelling.
National Rail said: “Some trains are running, but there is major disruption, and you may be heavily delayed and/or experience severe overcrowding.”
In Scotland, ScotRail lists a number of its lines which are currently affected, including on services between, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, and Glasgow Central.
In the west of England, Great Western Railway is reporting cancellations between Par and Newquay, Totnes and Plymouth, and Swindon and Bristol Parkway
Avanti West Coast is running a reduced timetable north of Preston further to speed restrictions applied by Network Rail.
The operator has also warned that flooding between Carlisle and Lockerbie means trains must run at a reduced speed on some lines towards Glasgow and Edinburgh.
In Wales, flooding has closed all lines between Aberdare and Abercynon.
Due to the impacts of #StormBram, we are expecting worsening weather conditions this afternoon. Our Service Delivery Director, Mark Ilderton, has shared an important update. Please plan ahead and check your journey before you set out. pic.twitter.com/xJPPycUwq1
Parts of Devon have seen a month’s worth of rainfall in the past 24 hours.
The total monthly average rainfall for the month of December is around 125mm in Devon, according to the Met Office.
But the Met Office has revealed that White Barrow in Devon has received 125.3mm over the past 24 hours.
Princetown in Devon saw 101.4mm while Dartmoor witnessed 96.9mm.
Vehicles driving in wet conditions such as brought on Storm Bram can be susceptible to aquaplaning or hydroplaning – where surface water causes a loss of traction.
Steve Howat, general manager at Continental Tyres, has reminded the public of how to react should their car’s tires lose grip.
He said: “Should aquaplaning occur, it is advised to take your foot off the accelerator pedal and depress the clutch.
“Avoid moving the steering wheel and ensure you don’t brake suddenly – in most cases, the rear wheels still have enough grip to slow down the vehicle.
“When traction is regained, it should be safe to drive on at a reduced speed.”
The River Derwent has burst its banks, flooding Weir Caravan Park in Stamford Bridge, East Yorkshire.
The Environment Agency had earlier issued a flood warning for the area, meaning flooding is expected.
The Met Office has advised the public to protect themselves and their property from the storm by securing loose objects such as ladders and garden furniture.
The forecaster has also encouraged people to close doors, windows, park vehicles in garages or clear of buildings, and “if chimney stacks are tall and in poor condition, move beds away from areas directly below them”.
Dan Suri, chief forecaster, said: “Storm Bram will bring a very wet and windy spell of weather, with very strong winds and further heavy rain which falling over saturated ground, could cause flooding impacts.”
#StormBram is bringing a period of very windy weather 🌬️
The strongest winds are expected to be felt along the northwestern coast of Scotland, where gusts could reach up to 90 mph ⚠️
Latest warning info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/DaLtOdP0qU
Police Scotland has warned motorists not to take to the roads in vehicles which could blow over.
Chief Supt Scott McCarren, head of road policing, said: “I would encourage people to drive to the conditions and plan ahead.
“Drivers of vehicles vulnerable to being blown over should plan their route to avoid exposed areas or consider cancelling your journey until conditions improve.
“In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads.”
Gusts of 70-80 mph are expected in Scotland, with a chance of 90 mph in the amber warning area which includes the Western Isles and parts of the Highlands and Argyll and Bute.
The Severn Bridge has now re-opened fully in both directions after wind speeds reduced.
It was closed for several hours, which caused huge tailbacks as motorists reported being stuck in traffic for up to four hours.
Announcing the reopening on social media, a spokesman said: “Following a reduction in wind speeds the #M48 Severn Bridge is now reopen fully in both directions between J1 and J2.
“Wind speeds will continue to be monitored closely throughout the day.
“Thank you for your patience.”
Among the casualties of Storm Bram was the Winter Wonderland attraction in the Cornish town of Pool.
Organisers said thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused by the weather conditions, as their team battled the elements throughout Monday to try and get its doors open.
Taking to social media, the owners wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce Winter Wonderland will remain closed today due to the significant damage caused by Storm Bram overnight.
“This situation is incredibly heartbreaking for all of us, as we’ve invested so much love, effort, and resources into creating a magical experience for you and your families.”
Ticket holders were offered the option to swap their bookings for any day the attraction is open.
A driver has been pulled from her submerged car after it was swept 40 yards downstream from a flooded ford.
The woman entered the crossing at Moyles Court, near Ringwood, Hampshire, but soon realised it was too deep.
As she attempted to reverse out of the ford the surging water dragged her blue Ford Focus down the stream.
A member of the public realised the danger and helped get the woman out of the floating car.
The vehicle was found further downstream almost on its roof.
It will only be recovered once the floodwater has rescinded and it is safe to do so.
Elsewhere in Dorset, four people were also pulled from their vehicles in Thornford, after multiple cars became stuck on a flooded road.
Motorists are reporting having their journeys delayed by as much as four hours because of the bridge closures and roadworks during Storm Bram.
Traffic Wales has come under fire for carrying out roadworks on Prince of Wales, meaning there is just one lane open in each direction for the diversion route.
Having already had Storm Benjamin and Storm Claudia sweep across the country, it is understandable to wonder why it has gone back to the letter B again.
Storm Claudia and Storm Benjamin were named by the Spanish Meteorological Service and Meteo France, respectively, despite affecting the UK.
France and Spain are part of the South Western storm naming group, meaning they did not affect the official UK alphabetical sequence.
The Met Office is part of the Western Europe storm naming group, alongside Met Éireann in Ireland and KNMI in the Netherlands.
Storm Bram, however, was named because of its potential impact on the UK and Ireland and because it is the next name on the annual list agreed upon by the Met Office and its partners.
The M48 Severn Bridge, which links England and Wales, has been closed in both directions as a result of Storm Bram.
The closure has caused long tailbacks and drivers facing hours of delays.
Traffic is being redirected to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, which has just one lane operating in each direction because of ongoing lamp column repair works.
National Highways said the Severn Bridge had to be closed as a result of strong gusts causing “hazardous” traffic conditions.
“When we expect gusts above 40 knots (46mph), we close the Severn Bridge to all traffic until the wind speeds have dropped,” a spokesman said.
“The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge has barriers which reduce the effects of these gusts. However, the older design of the M48 Severn Bridge didn’t include these barriers, and we sometimes need to restrict access to the Severn Bridge for the safety of our road users. When this happens, traffic is diverted on to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
“If wind speeds exceed 70 knots (80mph), both bridges are closed. Traffic can still travel between England and Wales by following a diversion using the M5, M50, A40 and A449.”
A Met Office amber warning for wind in north-western Scotland has been updated to cover a larger area which is further inland.
Forecasters have also extended the predicted 90mph gusts to last until 3am.
More than 3,000 homes are without power, according to the National Grid.
The energy company said the south-west of England and South Wales were being affected by Storm Bram.
It is not clear how many have lost power as a direct result of the storm.
However, a spokesman said: “Our engineers are monitoring the network and standing by to restore your power quickly if needed. Our customer services team is available 24/7 if you need us.”
In Cornwall, the railway line between Par and Newquay was closed due to flooding, with disruption expected until the end of the day.
Great Western Railway also closed the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway due to the forecast severe weather.
Transport for Wales said the line between Abercynon and Aberdare was shut because of “severe flooding in various locations”, with rail replacement coaches operating instead.
Fewer trains were able to run on all lines because of heavy rain flooding the railway between Danescourt and Cardiff Central, with disruption expected until 2pm on Tuesday.
Members of the public have been told they should only travel if “absolutely necessary” by police.
Devon and Cornwall Police also warned residents to drive at appropriate speeds and to leave extra distance behind the car in front.
The area is subject to Met Office yellow warnings for wind and rain throughout Tuesday.
A force spokesman said: “We’re already receiving lots of calls about incidents on roads across Devon and Cornwall this morning.
“Please only travel if absolutely necessary; drive at an appropriate speed and allow extra distance between other vehicles.”
Various ferry services in Scotland, Wales and Ireland have been cancelled as a result of the storm.
Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services, which offers passage to Scotland’s islands, said all 30 of its routes on the west coast were cancelled or facing disruption.
Services between Wales and the Republic of Ireland have also been cancelled, while Irish Ferries’ services between Holyhead and Dublin, and between Pembroke and Rosslare have been cancelled.
Network Rail Scotland said that some train services would be suspended until later on Tuesday.
Rail services between Fort William and Mallaig will be suspended from 4pm and between Dingwall and Kyle of Lochalsh from 5pm, due to the extreme winds that are forecast
Speed restrictions are also in place on some other routes.
From Tuesday morning trains have been running at reduced speeds on parts of the West Coast Main Line and routes between Glasgow, Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway as a result of heavy rainfall.
Network Rail Scotland said that from Tuesday afternoon there will be speed restrictions on the Mallaig Line, Oban Line, and West Highland Line, which will remain in place into Wednesday morning.
From Tuesday evening there will be similar limits on the Far North Line and sections of the Highland Main Line and Aberdeen-Inverness route, continuing until early Wednesday.
Storm Bram has caused dozens of flights to be cancelled from both Manchester Airport and Dublin Airport.
The storm has already scuppered travel plans with 42 flights being cancelled at Dublin Airport.
The airport warned that further cancellations are possible later today as wind speeds are expected to increase.
At Manchester, the majority of flights cancelled were operated by Irish airline Aer Lingus, including services to Dublin and Belfast. At least 12 have already been cancelled.
An amber weather warning for “very strong and disruptive winds” has been issued for north-west Scotland, with damage to buildings and homes, power cuts and travel disruption expected on Tuesday night.
Gusts of 70 to 80mph are widely expected, and might reach 90mph in some parts of north-west Scotland, the Met Office said.
Those in the area covered by the amber alert for wind – mainly the Highlands and Eilean Siar, the Western Isles – were told to be ready to protect their property and people from injury by checking for loose items outside their home and securing them.
The warning starts at 4pm on Tuesday and will end at 11.59pm.
More than 30 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – are in place for England, along with more than 170 alerts signalling flooding is possible.
The amber rain warning also includes parts of South Wales and the south-west of England, covering most of Dartmoor in Devon.
The forecasters said around 100mm of rain could fall in some locations with 50 to 75mm of rain expected across much of the warning area. The warning began at 12am and ends at 10am on Tuesday.
Two other yellow weather warnings for wind have been issued for Scotland, the north-east and north-west England and parts of Wales into Wednesday.
The warning starts from noon on Tuesday for 24 hours covering the Grampians, Highlands and Eilean Siar, the Orkney Islands and Strathclyde regions of Scotland.
The second warning also comes into force at noon and runs until 6am for parts of the Grampians, Denbighshire and Flintshire in Wales and north-west and north-east England.
⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️
Strong winds across western and northern parts of Northern Ireland
Tuesday 1400 – 1900
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/vPbEWcnKb2
The Met Office has warned people not to drive through floodwater during Storm Bram.
More than 30 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – are in place for England, along with more than 170 alerts signalling flooding is possible.
Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and potentially damaged, while some communities could be cut off because of flooded roads, the Met Office said.
Fast flowing floodwater is likely in the affected areas, also causing challenging conditions and a danger to life, it warned.
Drivers will face difficult driving conditions as spray and flooding may also lead to road closures.
The forecaster said it was “not safe to drive, walk or swim through floodwater”, telling motorists to avoid it where possible.
It warned of travel disruption on Tuesday morning and said to prepare to avoid travelling by road.
Part of the M66 in Greater Manchester has been shut southbound following flooding and a multi-vehicle crash.
National Highways said that as a result of the collision there is “also significant central reservation barrier damage”.
“Traffic Officers and area teams are on scene working to clear the flood water,” a spokesman said.
“The barrier damage will be assessed and repaired once the flood water has cleared.”
The closure is in place between Edenfield (A56) and Walmersley (J1), with those travelling told divert their route or delay their trip.
Meanwhile, the M48 Severn Bridge in South Gloucestershire is now open in both directions between J1 and J2 after being closed due to strong winds associated with Storm Bram.
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