Storm Kathleen - live: Over 100 flood alerts in place as heavy gusts and rain leave thousands without power
While blustery conditions batter parts of the country, the east of the UK will bathe in ‘unseasonably warm air’
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Thousands of homes remain without power as Storm Kathleen continues to tear across the country with heavy rain and winds of up to 70mph.
The Environment Agency has issued 119 flood alerts and 19 flood warning across England and Wales as further rain is expected to fall overnight in parts of Wales and the south west of England this evening.
Around 12,000 customers remained without electricity in Ireland on Saturday evening after Storm Kathleen swept across the island, with many remaining without access to electricity overnight.
A spokesman for ESB Networks said: “ESB Networks crews will continue to work late into the evening with a view to restoring supply to the vast majority of impacted customers by tonight.
“However, there will be some customers without power overnight.”
Strong winds are expected to persist tomorrow with a further yellow warning for wind has been issued for north-west Scotland on Sunday between 9am and 3pm.
The high winds also caused travel disruption, about 70 flights departing and arriving at UK airports before midday on Saturday were cancelled
Despite stormy weather, Saturday has provisionally become the hottest day of the year so far with 20.9C recorded, the Met Office said.
Power cuts for thousands as Storm Kathleen sweeps across Ireland
Thousands of customers have been left without electricity as Storm Kathleen sweeps across the island of Ireland.
An orange wind warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford came into effect at 7am and will lift at 2pm, while another status orange wind warning is in place for Galway and Mayo until 6pm.
A yellow wind warning is in place nationwide until 8pm.
Power outages reported on Saturday morning were concentrated in the south and west of the country.
Forecaster Met Eireann has warned of gale force southerly winds bringing a risk of difficult travel conditions, fallen trees, power outages and flooding along coastal areas.
Southerly winds bringing warmer temperatures today
Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: “The storm is the reason we are seeing the warmer temperatures, because the location of the storm – situated out towards the west of the UK – is bringing a southerly wind across the UK.
“This is bringing those warmer temperatures from the continent, meaning we are likely to see temperatures reaching 22C.”
The highest temperature of the year so far was 19.9C, recorded at the end of January at Achfary in north-west Scotland.
Dozens of flights cancelled as Storm Kathleen hits UK
Dozens of UK flights have been cancelled as Storm Kathleen brings winds of up to 70mph – and potentially the hottest day of the year so far.
About 70 flights departing and arriving at UK airports before midday on Saturday have already been cancelled as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind.
A further yellow warning for wind has been issued for north-west Scotland on Sunday between 9am and 3pm.
Trains across Scotland to run slower
Network Rail Scotland says: “Storm Kathleen will bring 50-60mph winds to Scotland from around lunchtime today. Based on that, we’ve taken the decision to slow trains down in several areas between 12 noon and 7pm.
“On the West Highland Line, trains will run slower than normal along most of the route – including the Oban and Mallaig branches. On the Borders Railway, trains will run slower than normal along the entire route.
“On the Glasgow Central – Edinburgh Waverley routes, we’ll also slow trains down. For services running via Carstairs it’ll be for around 6 miles near Auchengray. For services running via Shotts, it’ll be for around 8 miles between Shotts and Addiewell.
“Our specialist weather forecaster, based in our control room, will monitor the storm using live wind data. If we can remove these speed restrictions sooner, we will. Likewise, if we need to take further action, we will. If that happens, we’ll let you know though.
“If you’re travelling one of the routes we’ve mentioned today, your journey will take longer than usual, so please do check your journey before you leave the house. We’ll update you again following our next extreme weather meeting at lunchtime.”
Mapped: Which parts of UK will be battered by Storm Kathleen
The Met Office has issued a danger to life yellow weather warning as Storm Kathleen barrels into the UK and Ireland with 70mph winds.
The storm, the 11th of the season and named by the Irish Meteorological Service on Thursday, rolled in with blustery conditions on Friday.
Gusts of up to 60mph to 70mph in exposed areas are expected along western areas of the UK, including the northwest and southwest of England, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and Wales.
Mapped: Which parts of UK will be battered by Storm Kathleen?
The west coast of England and Scotland can expect to see gusts of up to 70mph
UK set to have hottest day of year so far – as Storm Kathleen tears towards Britain with danger-to-life winds
The UK is expected to record its hottest day of the year so far – as storms batter parts of the country with heavy rain and winds that pose a risk to life.
The Met Office said temperatures on Saturday could reach up to 22C in East Anglia, but issued a yellow warning elsewhere for gusts of up to 70mph.
Road, rail, air and ferry travel could all be disrupted as Storm Kathleen rolls in, forecasters said.
UK set to have hottest day of year so far – as Storm Kathleen winds threaten life
Met Office warns of travel disruption and power cuts across swathes of country
Mercury could hit 21C
Temperatures could rise as high as 21C on Saturday in Norfolk, the Met Office predicts.
Storm Kathleen is coming and Lilian won’t be far behind
No storm season has ever got beyond the letter K. But this is the second time in a UK storm season that the letter K has been reached in the alphabet:
Storm Kathleen is coming and Lilian won’t be far behind
The first time the letter K was reached was in March 2016, with Storm Katie
February was wettest in 258 years
The weekend storm comes after the Met Office’s preliminary figures showed February was the wettest in over two-and-a-half centuries:
Maps reveal where rain will hit as February poised to be wettest in 258 years
More showers set to lash UK on Wednesday and Thursday continuing February’s washout
Storm to pass over Ireland and west of England
Met Office imagery shows Storm Kathleen off the west coast of Spain heading towards the British Isles and passing over the island of Ireland and western England before pushing away towards Greenland.
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