UK
Storm Isha: Travel disruption to continue after UK battered by danger-to-life winds
Commuters are facing travel disruption this morning after Storm Isha battered the UK, bringing warnings of possible tornadoes and danger-to-life winds.
Rush-hour trains have been axed for many, with 90mph gusts expected to cause more cancellations and delays for rail, air and sea travellers into Monday morning.
Multiple Met Office weather warnings, including two amber wind alerts and a red warning for parts of northern Scotland, have been issued until the early hours.
And the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro) said a tornado is “possible” in England and Wales.
A more serious “tornado watch” zone was in place for Northern Ireland, as well as parts of Scotland and northern England, but expired late on Sunday.
Damage to homes and buildings, falling trees, power cuts, flying debris, large waves and even some flooding in places should be expected into Monday morning, it was warned.
Agencies across Cumbria declared themselves on standby for a major incident, with Sellafield nuclear site closing as a precaution on Sunday.
A clock tower falls to the ground in Eyre Square, Galway
Someone was struck by falling debris after scaffolding became dislodged in Belfast. They were treated at the scene by emergency services.
The Met Office said “everybody” has been affected by the storm.
Network Rail has imposed 50mph speed restrictions across most routes to keep passengers and trains safe from falling trees and debris blown onto tracks, with disruption likely to continue into Monday morning.
Get the five-day forecast where you are
Scotland’s railway operator cancelled all of its rush-hour trains and services may not begin running until “later on Monday”.
East Midlands Railway has said delays and alterations to its services were “likely”, while no LNER trains will run north of Newcastle until midday.
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Planes struggle to land in strong winds
Meanwhile, air traffic control restrictions are in place, leading to flight cancellations and causing some planes to divert.
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Storm Isha is the ninth named storm to hit the UK since the season began in September.
Each storm is named when it poses a risk to people and they are given names beginning with consecutive letters of the alphabet.
The record number of named storms in one year is when the Met Office began the practice in 2015/16, with Storm Katie being the 11th and final storm of the season.
Cold Arctic air pushing south into North America is making the jet stream more active, the Met Office said, and because it flows from west to east, it is bringing stormier weather to the UK.