Weather: One Dead As 100mph Winds Batter UK

[Jazzy]

One person has died as winds of up to 142mph battered parts of the UK, causing travel chaos and leaving 100,000 homes without power.

The lorry driver was killed when the HGV he was driving was blown on top of two cars on the A801 near Bathgate, West Lothian, with four others injured in the accident.

The Thames Barrier will be closed from 10pm to protect London from a combined tidal surge and high tide in the Thames estuary.

Elsewhere, homes in Norfolk and Essex are being evacuated after officials warned the lives of people in the region could be at risk from the worst coastal tidal surge for more than 60 years.

Prime Minister David Cameron said a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency response committee had been called to discuss how to combat the extreme conditions.

Motorists have been warned not to travel due to "extremely dangerous" road conditions and Scotland's entire rail network has been suspended.

Network Rail said debris on the lines and damage to equipment meant it was not safe to operate any services, with trains halted at their nearest stations and passengers advised to disembark.

Spokesman Nick King said: "The weather conditions are such that we are having to bring the network to a standstill at the moment.

"There's too much debris and too much damage to equipment to continue. We cannot continue to run trains with the levels of wind we are seeing."

Travellers have faced severe disruption across the country - while huge tidal surges over the next 48 hours are expected to see water levels breach sea defences along the east coast of England and cause devastating floods.

As winds got stronger - with gusts of 142mph recorded in the Highlands - Network Rail Scotland said Glasgow Central station had been evacuated "due to debris smashing glass in the roof", although no injuries were reported.

Source with video

Hope all our UK members are safe.

 

[Nebulous]

Hope all our UK members are safe.

Me too! Mother nature is a harsh mistress.

 

[Evil Eye]

The weather was pretty bad, yeah.
Seems like the UK took a worse beating this time.


So, did everyone keep their feet dry?

 

[wirelessguru1]

Nasty weather in the USA also...

 

[Nebulous]

Nasty weather in the USA also...

yeah its been freeeeeezing here in Cali. More so than last year it seems.

 

[wirelessguru1]

Nasty weather in the USA also...

yeah its been freeeeeezing here in Cali. More so than last year it seems.

Yes, it has been extra dry here in California so there is not enough water vapor in the air and as such it gets cooler. But now that it rained the temperatures are already starting to go up...

 

[Nebulous]

Nasty weather in the USA also...

yeah its been freeeeeezing here in Cali. More so than last year it seems.

Yes, it has been extra dry here in California so there is not enough water vapor in the air and as such it gets cooler. But now that it rained the temperatures are already staring to go up...

Doesn't feel like it to me