Storms Cause Disruption Across Ireland, Britain, and France
A violent winter storm has wreaked havoc across Ireland, Britain, and France, leading to significant transport disruptions, power outages, and at least one confirmed fatality. The storm, which struck on Saturday, brought with it strong winds, heavy rain, and snowfall, affecting thousands of homes and causing chaos in transport networks.
In Britain, Hampshire Police reported that a man was killed when a tree fell on his car near Winchester due to the storm's fierce winds. Investigations are ongoing into another road accident potentially linked to the storm, although initial reports suggest the road conditions were stable at the time.
Power Outages and Transport Chaos
As of Saturday evening, over 4,000 homes in southwest England were still without power, despite efforts by the National Grid to restore service. In Ireland, approximately 60,000 homes faced outages, particularly in the west and north-west regions, with repair teams working diligently to address the issues as weather conditions permitted. France also experienced significant outages, with around 47,000 homes affected by Storm Caetano, which had hit the country earlier in the week, causing power lines to collapse under winds reaching 130 km/h.
Transport services have been severely disrupted, with DFDS cancelling multiple ferry services between England and France until Monday. Train services in the UK were also impacted, particularly north of Preston, where passengers were advised against travel due to cancellations. Newcastle Airport faced flight cancellations due to heavy snowfall, with some flights diverted to other airports, further complicating travel plans for many.
Weather Warnings and Ongoing Challenges
The Met Office in Britain issued warnings for snow and ice, particularly affecting rural communities in Scotland and northern England, where up to 40 cm of snow was recorded. In Ireland, Met Éireann has warned of strong winds and heavy rain, while France's Enedis is working to restore electricity amid ongoing weather warnings in the northern and western regions. Authorities across the affected areas are preparing for continued challenges as they respond to the storm's aftermath and the potential for further severe weather in the coming days.
