Storm Jocelyn - live: Thousands remain without power after 97mph winds wreaked havoc across the country
Flights and trains cancelled across country as commuters urged to check their routes before starting journeys
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The UK and Ireland are reeling from the destruction of Storm Jocelyn whose 97mph winds caused major travel chaos and have left thousands without power.
Approximately 12,000 homes and businesses remain without power across the Republic of Ireland following storms Isha and Jocelyn.
Earlier on Wednesday, NIE Networks said power had been restored to more than 52,000 customers since Sunday evening in Northern Ireland.
However, 1,200 remained without power on Wednesday morning.
Rail services to and from Scotland have been suspended until at least noon today, with Network Rail Scotland saying it had dealt with incidents of flooding, fallen trees and a shed roof blowing onto a high wall above a track on Tuesday evening.
Avanti West Coast also told passengers not to travel north of Preston until at least noon on Wednesday.
It comes as the coastguard launched an urgent search on Tuesday evening following reports of a person in the sea in Porthcawl, south Wales.
The alarm was raised just before 6pm but after several hours of searching in the treacherous conditions, the search was suspended in the early hours of Wednesday before it resumed as light returned.
Pictures: Rail workers grapple with fallen tree as trains cancelled
Rail workers near Aigburth Station in Liverpool were pictured this morning clearing a tree that had fallen on railway tracks overnight.
Storm Jocelyn has sparked travel chaos this morning as several train companies warn passengers not to travel.
Rail services to and from Scotland were suspended until at least noon on Wednesday with Network Rail Scotland saying it had dealt with incidents including flooding, fallen trees and a shed roof blowing onto a high wall above a track.
They added they would be inspecting routes for damage at first light and said: “It’ll be done in many ways – teams on foot, in road-rail vehicles, freight locos and empty passenger trains. Our helicopter will be out too, as soon as winds ease.”
Avanti West Coast - which runs trains to Liverpool - told passengers not to attempt to travel north of Preston until at least noon on Wednesday and warned journeys in northwest England may take longer due to speed restrictions.
Watch live: View from Scottish lighthouse as dramatic waves crash into cliffside
Scotland’s Shetland Islands are currently experiencing extremely powerful gusts of wind as Storm Jocelyn brings stormy weather to the UK.
A view from cameras on Eshaness Lighthouse show dramatic waves crashing into the cliffsides as the Met Office warns: “There is a chance of Injuries and danger to life from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.”
Wind gusts reach speeds of 97mph
Wind gusts have reached speeds of 97mph in some areas of the UK as Storm Jocelyn continues to wreak havoc on Britain.
Capel Curig in Snowdonia experienced the brunt of the winds with gusts in Aberdaron, Wales also reaching dangerous speeds of 79mph.
In Shap, Cumbria, gusts of 77mph were recorded.
What weather warnings are in place today?
The Met Office has issued weather warnings for swathes of the UK on Wednesday, as Storm Jocelyn continues to wreak havoc on the UK
An amber warning for northern Scotland expired this morning, but large parts of the UK are still impacted by a yellow warning for wind.
Central and eastern Scotland, northern England, Yorkshire and some parts of the midlands will be affected by strong winds until 3pm today.
The Met Office warned that power cuts, damage to buildings and a danger to life may be possible as parts of the country saw wind gusts up to 97mph on Tuesday.
Pictures: Stations eerily quiet as trains cancelled amid storm
Pictures from UK train stations show abandoned platforms as rail companies are forced to cancel services amid stormy weather.
Rail services to and from Scotland have been suspended until at least noon today, with Network Rail Scotland saying it had dealt with incidents of flooding, fallen trees and a shed roof blowing onto a high wall above a track on Tuesday evening.
Avanti West Coast also told passengers not to travel north of Preston until at least noon on Wednesday.
Martin Thomson, national operations manager for resilience at Transport Scotland, said: “Across the wider network, we can expect to see more delays and cancellations with ferries, flights and rail into Wednesday morning.”
Today’s weather forecast
As Britain wakes up to yet another day of stormy weather, the Met Office’s outlook looks slightly more positive as the day goes on.
Here’s the forecaster’s latest forecast for today:
Today:
A day of sunny spells and blustery showers, though the south will be mainly dry. Winds gradually easing from the south as Storm Jocelyn moves away from the UK. Turning cloudy from the southwest later with patchy light rain.
Tonight:
Light winds and clear skies with a frost likely in the north and east. Cloud and outbreaks of mostly light rain moving northeast from southwest England.
Search suspended for man in water
The coastguard launched a search on Tuesday evening following reports of a person in the sea in Porthcawl, south Wales.
The alarm was raised just before 6pm but after several hours of searching in the treacherous conditions, the search was suspended in the early hours of Wednesday.
Rescue services said a decision on further action would be made at first light.
HM Coastguard said rescue teams from Porthcawl, Port Talbot, Llantwit Major and Llansteffan. They were joined by an HM Coastguard helicopter from St Athan and the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats from Mumbles and Barry Dock.
Family mourn ‘beautiful little sister’ killed by tree in Storm Isha
The family of a woman killed when her van slammed into a tree during the high winds of Storm Isha have spoken of their heartbreak.
Kate Keenan had just turned 25 when she suffered fatal injuries in the horror crash in Carnalogue, Ireland at 1.50am on Monday.
Kate’s sister Rachel penned an emotional tribute on Facebook, writing: “How am I going to do life without my beautiful little sister?
“You were the strong one - not me. I never wanted you to leave me.”
Read the full story by Barney Davies here...
Family mourn ‘beautiful little sister’ killed by tree in Storm Isha
Kate Keenan was named as one of the four victims of Storm Isha
Fresh weather related travel disruption
Storm Jocelyn has brought fresh travel disruption to much of the UK as wind gusts reach 97mph.
Rail services to and from Scotland have been suspended until at least noon today, with Network Rail Scotland saying it had dealt with incidents of flooding, fallen trees and a shed roof blowing onto a high wall above a track on Tuesday evening.
Avanti West Coast also told passengers not to travel north of Preston until at least noon on Wednesday.
Martin Thomson, national operations manager for resilience at Transport Scotland, said: “Across the wider network, we can expect to see more delays and cancellations with ferries, flights and rail into Wednesday morning.”
On the roads, drivers have also been facing severe disruption. The Queen Elizabeth II bridge at the Dartford Crossing, M48 Severn Bridge and A66 in County Durham and Cumbria were closed due to high winds.
The M1 was also closed in both directions to high-sided vehicles at Junction 34 for Sheffield, according to Traffic England.
Air travel has not escaped the wrath of the stormy weather either, with eight flights cancelled at Dublin Airport and four at Glasgow Airport on Tuesday evening.
Storm Jocelyn brings 97mph wind gusts to UK
The UK has recorded winds gusting to 97mph this morning during Storm Jocelyn, significantly higher speeds than what the Met Office had forecast.
The highest wind speed recorded in the UK was in Capel Curig in Wales, at 97mph, while other regions experienced wind gusts of around 70mph, the Met Office said.
Earlier, the forecaster predicted maximum 80mph wind gusts for Storm Jocelyn.
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