Power cuts across the UK after Storm Isha brings 99mph winds

Thousands of homes are currently without power, with weather warnings still in place across the UK after Storm Isha caused heavy rain and gusts of wind up to 99mph.

Emergency services say they have been dealing with fallen trees and are helping people who need support.

An amber weather warning for wind - the second highest of the Met Office's three warning levels - was in place across most of the country from Sunday evening, but has now been replaced by a lower yellow warning until midday on Monday.

Storm Isha is the ninth named storm since September, and follows on from Storm Henk earlier this month.

BBC Weather presenter, Sarah Keith-Lucas says: "Isha has been the biggest storm of the season so far.

"For parts of Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland, we have seen the strongest winds recorded in 10 to 20 years."

The Met Office, which monitors UK weather, was warning Storm Isha could see gusts of at least 80 mph for many parts of the UK - but data shows five areas recorded gusts of wind even higher than that.

The highest gust so far recorded was 99mph at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland, followed by 90mph at Capel Curig, in the Snowdonia National Park in Wales.

The Needles, a light house with a weather station on the Isle of Wight saw 86 mph, Shap in Cumbria recorded 82 mph and Prestwick Gannet in South Ayrshire 81 mph.

A rare red warning for wind - which is the most severe warning and warns of a risk to life - was is in place for parts of northern Scotland until 7am.

High waves due to Storm Isha hit the shore in Porthleven, in south-west England

A lower yellow weather warning for wind now remains in place across the whole country until midday. Gusts of 50-60mph are forecast, with coastal areas expected to see gusts still reaching 70-80mph.

A further yellow warning for wind for Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and northern England has also been issued from 4pm on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.

Forecasters say rain brought by Storm Isha means there is the potential for flooding and there are currently 50 flood warnings in place in Scotland, 29 in England and six in Wales.

Power problems

A fallen tree on Lisburn Road, Belfast

Electricity companies say people have lost power in several different parts of the UK - including 45,000 homes in Northern Ireland, 8,000 in the north-west of England, 3,000 in Wales and several hundred in Cornwall.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland says the weather has put "significant pressure" on the 999 emergency system.

Ch Supt Davy Beck said the emergency services responded "to a significant number of fallen trees, power outages and other calls for assistance."

Travel disruption

A fallen tree on the railway line at Gartcosh in North Lanarkshire

ScotRail cancelled all of its services at 7pm on Sunday and said they would not resume until after 9am on Monday.

Belfast Airport cancelled all flights to England, Scotland and Wales on Sunday evening.

The arrivals board at Manchester Airport shows many flights cancelled or delayed due to high winds caused by Storm Isha

Other airports also cancelled flights, and many services were delayed or diverted, with some planes having to land in other countries.

There are difficult conditions for drivers on the roads too, with some of the worst disruption is in Scotland.

Road Policing Scotland has urged motorists to "avoid travel" and only take journeys "if absolutely necessary".