'Stay indoors' warning issued in mid Wales as winds hit
A fallen tree blocks the road in Aberystwyth
People in mid and west Wales have been advised not to travel by Dyfed-Powys Police as thousands of homes across the country are left without power.
Officers said there was a risk of flying debris in Ceredigion due to deteriorating conditions.
Aberystwyth University advised staff and students to leave its campuses as soon as possible to ensure they arrived home before dark.
A red weather warning was in force for west and north west Wales.
Cardigan High Street was closed because of falling roof tiles, and most buses in the county were suspended, Ceredigion council said.
Western Power Distribution said tens of thousands of homes were without power, including some in Brecon, while thousands of Scottish Power customers were also affected.
Some trains were cancelled and schools closed early as gusts hit the mid Wales coast.
Mid and West Wales Fire Service said: "We're experiencing extremely high winds throughout the service area. Stay indoors and don't travel unless absolutely necessary."
A number of schools across Ceredigion closed early due to the weather.
Fire crews received a large number of calls relating to unsafe structures due to the weather, mainly in Pembrokeshire.
Have you got any photographs of how the stormy weather is affecting your area. Please send them in via email to newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk.
A fallen tree blocks the road in Lon Ceredigion, Pwllheli
High winds have hit Aberystwyth, with a red warning in place for parts of north and west Wales