Storm Darragh Wreaks Havoc Across UK with Powerful Winds

A yellow Met Office wind warning came into effect at 6am for England and Wales, with gusts reaching 80mph in Northern Ireland.

According to details, the winds of 35-45mph hit inland areas of England and Wales, with coastal regions experiencing speeds up to 70mph. This followed Saturday’s record-breaking 96mph gust at Berry Head in Devon, the weekend’s highest speed recorded by the Met Office. Gwynedd, northwest Wales, also saw winds exceeding 90mph.

The Met Office warned of further travel disruption and power cuts, particularly until 6pm on Sunday. Heavy rain was expected to persist in central and eastern England, with up to 25mm forecast across large areas.

National Highways reported the closure of the M48 Severn Bridge in both directions, while 50 flood warnings and 130 flood alerts remained active across England. Natural Resources Wales issued nine flood warnings and 20 alerts.

Storm Darragh left approximately 200,000 customers without power on Sunday morning, although 88% of affected homes had been reconnected, according to the Energy Networks Association.

Tragically, two men lost their lives after trees fell on their vehicles. A man in his 40s died on Saturday morning when a tree fell on his van on the A59 in Longton, near Preston.

Hours later, another man died after a tree struck his car on Silver Birch Road in Erdington.