Red ‘danger to life’ warnings come into force as 114mph Storm Éowyn strikes
Calmac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast and Steam Packet Ferries between Heysham and the Isle of Man both announced Friday’s planned sailings had been cancelled.
A number of train companies including Avanti West Coast, Lumo, CrossCountry and Grand Central have also told customers not to travel on routes across parts of North Wales, Scotland and northern England with no services running.
Passengers and motorists in areas covered by red and amber weather warnings have been told to avoid travel “unless absolutely essential”.
National Highways said the A66 between the A1M in North Yorkshire and M6 in Cumbria, as well as the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, were both closed overnight due to strong winds.
Further south, the M48 Severn Bridge was closed due to strong winds, while the Tamar Bridge on the A38 between Devon and Cornwall was closed to high-sided vehicles until 5am.
Avon and Somerset reported a number of local roads had been blocked due to fallen trees, advising motorists to “take care when travelling”.
In Wales, Gwent Police confirmed emergency services were working to manage surface flooding on the B4598 Raglan Toward Abergavenny.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland described the storm as an “exceptional weather event” and said it was expected to bring the strongest winds seen in the country since 1998.
