Man Dies After Storm Ciara Topples Tree Onto His Mercedes

The 58-year-old was killed on Sunday, Hampshire Police said.
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A 58-year-old man has died after a tree fell on to the Mercedes he was driving on the A33 from Winchester to Micheldever on Sunday, Hampshire Police said.

More than 20,000 homes have spent the night without power as the UK continues to reel from the storm.

As of 5am on Monday, UK Power Networks reported more than 18,500 properties across the east and southeast of England were still without power while Western Power Distribution said more than 2,800 homes were in the dark.

Parts of the UK continue to brace for blizzards and up to 20cm of snow in the wake of the storm, with travel disruption set to continue.

Some areas saw a month and a half’s rainfall in just 24 hours and gusts of more than 90mph swept across the country on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 178 flood warnings in place across the country.

Flights, ferries and trains all saw cancellations and delays on Sunday, while drivers faced treacherous conditions with floodwater, fallen trees and other debris closing roads.

A Met Office amber weather warning for wind, which had been in place across most of England, elapsed at 9pm on Sunday as Storm Ciara moved away to the north-east of Scotland.

But a yellow warning for wind remained in force for the whole UK until midnight, with strong winds, heavy showers, snow and ice expected on Monday.

⚠️Yellow Wind Warning ⚠️

A spell of very strong winds is expected across southern England on Monday

Further information 👉https://t.co/N3AcwivKwO

Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/qO4u5aZCvM

— Met Office (@metoffice) February 10, 2020

A yellow warning for heavy snow and strong winds is in place for Northern Ireland and most of Scotland and a yellow warning of snow and ice is in force for North West England throughout Monday and Tuesday.

A yellow warning for wind in the south is in place between 10am and 5pm on Monday.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “While Storm Ciara is clearing away, that doesn’t mean we’re entering a quieter period of weather.

“It’s going to stay very unsettled.

“We have got colder air coming through the UK and will be feeling a real drop in temperatures, with an increased risk of snow in northern parts of the UK and likely in Scotland.

“There could be up to 20cm on Monday and Tuesday and with strong winds, blizzards aren’t out of the question.”

There are currently some flood warnings in place due to #StormCiara. Please stay safe and avoid driving through flood water. Check your flood risk: https://t.co/BpUpnj1mdd pic.twitter.com/wkH1rJDzg2

— Environment Agency (@EnvAgency) February 9, 2020

Train passengers are being advised to check with operators before travelling as there are likely to be some cancellations to early trains as Network Rail engineers work through the night to assess the damage.

There are already numerous reports of rail disruption, including trains on the TransPennine Express between Preston and Edinburgh being suspended due to flooding at Carlisle.

Motorists are also warned to take care with continued disruption to the road network and tricky driving conditions likely to continue into rush hour.

And airports around the country on Sunday night told travellers to check their flight with their airline due to the continuing bad weather conditions.

British Airways said in a statement there will be a “minor knock-on effect” to Monday’s schedule.

Waves crash over the harbour wall by a lighthouse as Storm Ciara hits Newhaven, on the south coast of England on Sunday
Waves crash over the harbour wall by a lighthouse as Storm Ciara hits Newhaven, on the south coast of England on Sunday
ASSOCIATED PRESS

“We’re getting in touch with those affected, and have brought in extra customer teams to help them with a range of options including a full refund or an alternative flight between now and Thursday,” the airline said.

“Any customer flying short-haul to or from Heathrow or Gatwick, can also choose to make changes to their travel plans if they would prefer to fly another time.”

More than 200 flood warnings were issued across England on Sunday, with the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, in Cumbria, severely hit.

The River Irwell burst its banks at Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, while areas including Blackpool, Whalley, Longton and Rossendale, were affected by flooding in Lancashire.

The fastest gusts of 97 miles per hour were recorded on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, with 93 miles per hour winds hitting Aberdaron, a village at the tip of the Llyn Peninsula.

Inland, Manchester Airport recorded gusts of 86 miles per hour, while 178mm of rain fell in Honister Pass, in Cumbria, in the 24 hours to 4pm on Sunday – around one-and-a-half times the average February rainfall of 112mm.

Some 539,000 people experienced a power cut on Sunday with 118,000 left without power by 4pm across the whole of the UK, according to Energy Networks.

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