UK weather: Storm Jocelyn arrives in UK with 76mph gusts

Storm Jocelyn is moving across the UK, a day after Storm Isha wreaked havoc and left at least two people dead.

Tuesday has been marked by heavy rain in some parts, with strong gusts expected into Wednesday.

The strongest gust so far of 76mph was recorded in the Welsh village of Aberdaron, while in Scotland trains stopped running at19:00 GMT.

Meanwhile, thousands of homes have been affected by power cuts, and parts of York have been flooded.

The Met Office has issued amber and yellow weather warnings for wind covering much of the country. The centre of the storm is moving to the north of the UK.

The strongest winds are expected in the early hours of Wednesday, with speeds of up to 80mph forecast in exposed parts of northern and western Scotland. The area is covered by a Met Office amber wind warning until 08:00 on Wednesday.

There will also be some scattered heavy showers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England through the night, but the worst of the rain has passed.

While many parts of the country are dealing with travel delays, power cuts and flooding, Storm Jocelyn is not expected to be as disruptive as Storm Isha.

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All ScotRail trains have been suspended since 19:00 on Tuesday and will not restart on Wednesday morning.

The train company said each route would need to undergo a safety inspection before trains are able to run due to the risk of trees and other debris falling onto the track.

TransPennine Express, which operates rail services between northern England and Scotland, is advising customers not to travel until Wednesday noon on its Preston to Glasgow and Preston to Edinburgh routes.

Avanti West Coast’s last London to Glasgow service departed at 15:30 on Tuesday. The train company said its services to and from Scotland would be cancelled until at least midday on Wednesday.
Map of Scotland with north-western fringe highlighted in orange, representing amber warning from 18:00 GMT Tues – 08:00 Wed, wind gusts 55-65mph and risks of wind up to 80 mph

In Northern Ireland, 4,500 homes and businesses were still without electricity as of Tuesday afternoon but power had been restored to 48,000 homes, according to NIE Networks

The company has warned that further power cuts and damage is possible as Storm Jocelyn hits.

Elsewhere in the UK, Electricity North West said 1,800 customers were without power in Cumbria, while the supply was restored to more than 78,000 homes.

There are also 26 flood warnings in place across Scotland as well as 15 in England.

In York, parts of the city have flooded with water levels on the River Ouse already very high, and set to rise further.
Flooding in YorkImage source, PA Media
Image caption,
Properties have been flooded in York

Motorists are being urged to reconsider making journeys where the weather is expected to be the worst, including western and southern Scotland and north-west England.

“With so much heavy rainfall and debris on the roads, driving conditions will be very challenging,” RAC spokeswoman Alice Simpson said.

“We also suggest drivers avoid parking underneath or near to trees,” she added.

Trains stop across Scotland as Storm Jocelyn arrives
Fear Storm Jocelyn could hamper power repairs

The Met Office has issued the following severe weather warnings:

An amber warning for wind for the fringes of western and northern Scotland from 18:00 on Tuesday till 08:00 on Wednesday
A yellow warning for wind across the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern Wales and north-west England until 13:00 on Wednesday
A yellow warning for wind for south Wales, the Midlands and north-east England from 12:00 on Tuesday until 15:00 on Wednesday

Wednesday is set to be windy, particularly across Scotland and northern England, before it starts to ease as the day goes on.

On Monday, Storm Isha’s winds disrupted the journeys of many road, rail and air travellers.

An 84-year-old man died after the car he was in crashed into a tree near Falkirk; while a man in his 60s was killed when a tree fell on his car in Limavady, County Londonderry.

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