Summary

  1. Goodbyepublished at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    That's it from us here covering today's disruption from Storm Darragh.

    A summary of the main incidents can be found here.

  2. How to prepare for floodspublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Flood warnings are currently in place across the region - meaning flooding is expected.

    They are in:

    • Curry Moor and Hay Moor - between Taunton and Langport - in Somerset
    • Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire
    • Salisbury in Wiltshire

    Here's how to prepare for floods when storms hit.

  3. Travel latestpublished at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    A fallen tree and a man with a chainsawImage source, Wiltshire Council

    There is still disruption on roads and train services across the south west of England.

    The following roads are closed:

    Somerset:

    • The M5 southbound between J25 (Taunton) and J26 (Wellington) due to a multi-vehicle collision
    • Church Street, Timberscombe - Minehead
    • Long Bottom Cross, Stoke St - Michael
    • Brindham Lane - Glastonbury
    • Lowton Rd - Angersleigh
    • Whitworth Road - Minehead
    • A367 - Stratton-on-the-Fosse

    Gloucestershire:

    • Kidnappers Lane - Cheltenham
    • Stowfield Road, Lydbrook
    • A429 - Stow Bridge
    • Bryworth Lane - Lechlade

    Wiltshire:

    • Oaksey Ford
    • Seagry Road

    A number of train services have been cancelled or delayed across the area. Check here, external for more information.

  4. 'Spectacular' light show lanterns destroyedpublished at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    A damaged lantern from a light displayImage source, Longleat

    A wildlife and safari park remains closed for a second day after parts of its festive light display were damaged by high winds.

    Some of the lanterns in The Festival of Light display at Longleat were destroyed by today's extreme weather.

    It is the second time the park has had to close after damage was caused by Storm Bert in November.

    Scott Ashman, head of operations at Longleat, said it is "disappointing".

    A damaged lantern from a light displayImage source, Longleat

    “Just as two weeks ago, our crews are working around the clock to make the site safe and repair the damaged lanterns so we can ensure The Festival of Light is as spectacular as it was before Storm Darragh hit," he said.

    "We know guests will understand that safety must come first, and we want to ensure when we do open that the experience is as good as they expect it to be.

    “Naturally rebooking is subject to availability, but we hope the majority can be accommodated in some way."

    The team at Longleat said they plan to reopen again on Monday.

  5. Woman plans to wrap presents in the dark amid blackoutpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    A resident says she is making the most of a power cut and plans to wrap presents in the dark.

    Hilary from Street, Somerset, said an outage hit her area while she was making her "Christmas gravy".

    "We went to the shop and got batteries and candles," she said.

    "We were going to have a roast but instead we're now having ham and cheese and some Bailey's."

    She said the panel between her home and the neighbour's garden "has gone" after today's high winds.

    "If we still don't have power, we'll just wrap presents later," she added.

  6. Flood warning amid heavy rainpublished at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    A red and white flood warning sign in a flooded areaImage source, PA

    A flood warning has been issued amid heavy rainfall.

    The Mythe Bridge river gauge in Tewkesbury has shown water levels are rising.

    The Environment Agency said it expects flooding to hit properties and roads in the Severn Ham area on Monday and Tuesday.

  7. Crews tackle 70 fallen treespublished at 17:41 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Dozens of fallen trees have made some roads impassable.

    Wiltshire Council has warned drivers the Met Office's yellow weather warning for wind has now been extended to 06:00 GMT tomorrow.

    On social media, the authority confirmed it had responded to more than 70 reports of fallen trees so far.

    "If you spot a tree down, please report it," a spokesperson added.

    A fallen treeImage source, Wiltshire Council
    A fallen treeImage source, Wiltshire Council
    A fallen treeImage source, Wiltshire Council
  8. 13,000 households without power across Somersetpublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    An aerial view of Glastonbury town and TorImage source, PA

    About 13,000 homes are still without power across Somerset.

    National Grid south west has reported there are currently 80 incidents across the county.

    Thousands of properties in Bristol, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are also without power.

    Matt Turner, from the National Grid, said teams and engineers are "really pulling together" to try and restore power whilst they work in a "really challenging environment".

    "Really strong winds have been continuing throughout the day due to the storm and the accumulative impact of this does mean that there are around 13,000 customers off-supply across Somerset at the moment," he said.

    "That's over 80 incidents across the county both in the higher and coastal areas.

    "A few are Shepton Mallet, Wells, Glastonbury and the surrounding towns and villages where we are seeing a particular hotspot."

  9. Falling tree almost hits animals' shelter at wildlife parkpublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    A wildlife park owner says a tree that fell during Saturday's high winds almost hit two animal houses and slightly damaged another.

    Chris Moiser, from the Tropiquaria Wildlife Park, said it has been a "wet and wild" day and the storm winds are the fastest he has seen in 17 years.

    "Our biggest issue is that a whole row of trees have just now erupted out of the ground and torn up a whole section of the tapir paddock fence - and Indra (the tapir) is very unhappy about it," a spokesperson said.

    "With it being Sunday tomorrow we will be unable to get materials locally until Monday.

    "She is secured for tonight but we desperately need to make emergency repairs at first light."

    The zoo has asked anyone with fencing stakes or other building materials to get in contact.

  10. Heritage railway to 'lose fair bit of money' amid closurepublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    An old train carriage at the railway centreImage source, Yeovil Railway Cnetre

    Christmas events at a heritage railway centre have been cancelled due to today's extreme weather conditions.

    Yeovil Railway Centre shut earlier after debris started flying around.

    Andy, from the centre, said the company will "probably lose a fair amount of money from it".

    "There were bits flying around that shouldn't be flying around," he said.

    "We even had a portaloo on its side."

    He said the team is hoping to continue their festive events tomorrow.

  11. Clifton Suspension Bridge closespublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Clifton Suspension Bridge

    Clifton Suspension Bridge has been closed amid safety concerns.

    The Bristol bridge was shut to all traffic and pedestrians at 15:15 GMT.

    People have been advised to check the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust's website for reopening updates.

    Amber and yellow weather warnings remain in place until 06:00 on Sunday.

  12. 'Roads remain impassable'published at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Media caption,

    Burnham on Sea trees 'battered' by storm

    Fallen trees have damaged walls and closed roads in a residential area.

    A local performer has captured the damage on Rectory Road in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, on camera.

    The comedian, who calls himself Butser, said the area had be "badly affected".

    "Some of these lovely trees have been absolutely battered by the wind," he said.

    "I'm devastated for the people in these houses. The roads remain impassable."

  13. Wreckage blocks road after block of flats' roof flies offpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Media caption,

    Wreckage blocks road after block of flats' roof flies off

    A road has been blocked after panels from a block of flats' roof flew off.

    Footage shows part of the roof lying on Albert Street, Bridgwater.

    One resident filmed the scene from outside her window.

  14. Update: Prince of Wales bridge reopenspublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    The Prince Of Wales Bridge on the M4 has reopened after taking a battering from strong winds.

    The popular bridge, which connects south Wales to the south west of England, was closed for most of the day, but has now reopened in both directions.

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  15. Long wait for people without electricitypublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    A stormy sea front in Watchet

    Thousands of people across the south west of England have no electricity this afternoon due to power cuts caused by the storm.

    People in Haselbury Plucknett near Crewkerne, Somerset, have been without power for most of the afternoon.

    Resident Barbara said she has been listening to the radio on her wind-up radio since midday.

    "It was supposed to be the big church clean before Christmas, but I hadn't got the message," she said.

    "I turned up and did a couple of hours of cleaning in the church until the power went out there.

    "I then came home and had power for about an hour, quickly made a hot meal, a hot drink and topped up my thermal flask," she said.

    The "feels like" temperature in Somerset is currently 1C, according to the Met Office.

  16. Forbidden Planet goes ahead with 'relaunch day'published at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    The Forbidden Planet storefrontImage source, Google

    While some events have been cancelled due to Storm Darragh, bosses of a cult entertainment store decided nothing was going to get in their way of reopening.

    The Forbidden Planet store closed last year after a blaze broke out on floors above it.

    So after being shut for almost 12 months, they declared "nothing will stop them" relaunching today.

    Quote Message

    Whether that’s the raging flames of hell itself, aka the Bristol Clifton Heights blaze of December 2023, or today’s relentless Storm Darragh.

  17. Emergency crews respond to 50 calloutspublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    North Somerset Council has issued an update on social media to answer Storm Darragh questions.

    As of 14:30 GMT:

    • More than 50 calls have been taken to fallen trees, and that could keep rising before the storm passes. They said their teams have had a "busy time". Report fallen trees or debris to the council here, external.
    • The National Grid is working to restore power to a number of North Somerset properties. A live power map can be found here, external.
    • North Somerset's three household waste and recycling centres - Portishead, Weston and Backwell - will stay closed today. Portishead and Weston will reopen on Sunday, while Backwell will be shut for the foreseeable due to fallen trees.
    • The authority's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol was activated on Friday to provide shelter to anyone who was sleeping rough. It will continue into the start of the next week.
  18. Fallen tree outside schoolpublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    BBC Radio Somerset listener Jimbo has sent us a photo of a fallen tree in Wells by Cathedral School.

    Meanwhile another photograph, sent to us via on WhatsApp, shows in Ilminster near Dillington a tree laying across the A303.

    If you'd like to get in touch via WhatsApp we are on 0800 313 4630.

    Tree fallen across road near Wells Cathedral SchoolImage source, Jimbo
    Tree covering the A303 in Ilminster
  19. More photos show wind damage to flatspublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    Firefighters have secured the area after panels from a block of flats' roof fell into a road.

    Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a roof being damaged in today's high winds.

    Photos show the roof in Albert Street, Bridgwater, coming off.

    Some have fallen onto the road, while others are hanging off the building.

    Bridgwater Fire Station crews have now left the incident in the hands of police.

    Panels blown off the roof of a block of flatsImage source, Kirsty Warren Dubs
    Panels blown off the roof of a block of flatsImage source, Wayne Ball
    Panels blown off the roof of a block of flatsImage source, Kirsty Warren Dubs
  20. Holidays can finally start as airport departures resumepublished at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

    A gathering of people in the departures lobby at Bristol Airport

    Departures at Bristol Airport have finally resumed.

    The announcement was made this afternoon after passengers waited for hours, our reporter at the airport - waiting for a flight - said.

    Most flights to and from the airport have faced delays and cancellations.

    A Bristol Airport spokesperson said: “Storm Darragh will continue to cause severe disruption today.

    "Passengers are advised to check with their airline before travelling to the airport.”