Storm Ali: Two killed as severe winds lash UK and Ireland
- Published
A woman died when the caravan she was in was blown off a cliff
Two people have died after Storm Ali swept across parts of the UK and Ireland, bringing winds of up to 100mph.
A woman died after the caravan she was in was blown off a cliff in the Irish Republic, while in Northern Ireland a man was killed by a falling tree.
Others have been injured, including a woman who was badly hurt when a tree fell on a car in Cheshire.
Thousands of homes are without power, lorries have overturned and a cruise ship broke free from its moorings.
A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", is in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England until 22:00 BST.
Ali is the UK's first named storm of the season.
A man in his 20s was killed and another in his 40s was injured, after a tree fell on them at the gates of Slieve Gullion Forest Park, near Newry, County Armagh.
The men were working on behalf of Northern Ireland Water.
It is understood the woman who was killed in County Galway was a tourist in her 50s who had been staying at a campsite in Claddaghduff.
Cheshire Police said a woman in Crewe was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a tree fell on a car on the A49.
In Scotland efforts will continue throughout the night to restore power supplies and clear debris from roads and rail.
One person was injured after being blown over by high winds outside the new V&A Dundee museum, which was later closed.
Five hundred cruise passengers and crew were stranded in Greenock after severe weather broke their ship's mooring lines. Tugs were called in to assist the Nautica.
A 102mph gust was recorded on the Tay Road Bridge between Dundee and Fife at 15:00.
This home-owner in Sandwell, West Midlands, had a lucky escape after a tree was blown down
Earlier a "major incident" was declared in Dumfries and Galloway, where a number of people were hurt by flying debris.
Children in the area were told not to walk home from school until the weather subsided.
Dumfries and Galloway Virtual Operations Support Team, external said some children had been injured by flying debris.
This Boeing 737 managed to land in torrential rain at Leeds Bradford Airport, but many other flights are disrupted
Tugs were sent to assist the cruise liner Nautica, which broke from its moorings
Earlier, a freight train derailed on the Highland Main Line after striking fallen branches.
And strong winds also caused a cruise ship to slip its moorings in the port of Greenock, Inverclyde.
Oceania Cruises said all guests and crew were safe and tugs were able to bring the vessel back to its berth on Wednesday evening.
In Edinburgh, a section of Princes Street in the city centre was closed after parts of the roof of the Top Shop building came off in strong winds.
People in Blackpool brave the winds
Thousands of homes and businesses are still without power in Scotland.
Power cuts and fallen trees have also caused disruption in Cumbria, where residents were warned of flying debris.
A trampoline lifts off in Shifnal, Shropshire
Weather presenter Chris Fawkes says winds of 115mph were recorded in the Scottish mountains
Travel disruption:
Cumbria Roads Police says this HGV was overturned on the M6 due to wind
The M6 was closed northbound between J43 and J44 after a lorry was blown over - although lanes have now reopened
The Tay Road Bridge, external between Fife and Dundee was shut for much of the day, but later reopened to cars only
Glasgow Airport had a number of cancellations, external and there was further disruption expected at Belfast International Airport
Virgin trains running between Preston and Glasgow may be cancelled or delayed, external due to speed restrictions
Trains to and from Glasgow Central station were suspended
ScotRail is is advising against all but essential travel, with a number of routes suspended due to trees on the line or overhead wires being damaged
Fallen trees like this one in Belfast are causing disruption
In Northern Ireland, about 65,000 homes were without power, while two councils closed some public spaces because of the storm.
Belfast City Council said it had closed all its parks, pitches and playgrounds, while Derry City and Strabane District Council closed all its parks and cemeteries, external "until further notice".
Belfast Zoo was also closed due to the weather.
Dozens of roads are known to have been affected, with a number closed by fallen trees.
Storm Ali brought spectacular lightning over the west coast of Scotland
BBC Weather said on Wednesday evening that the wind had dropped - although the yellow warning remains in force across the whole of Scotland, and parts of North Wales and northern England.
Those areas are likely to experience gusts of up to 60 mph but could face similar levels of danger and damage.
BBC Weather said the storm could have a greater impact because of the time of year.
It said most trees were still in full leaf and were "acting like sails", making it more likely they could be pulled over and cause travel problems.
