A weather warning has been issued for much of the North West, with gusts of wind up to 80mph set to batter the country.
The Met Office has issued the yellow warning from midnight until 3pm today, Thursday December 21.
It has been revised from the end time of 9pm as winds slowly ease and impacts become less likely.
The A66 in Durham/Cumbria is closed to high sided and vulnerable vehicles in both directions between the A1 junction 53 and the M6 junction 40 due to the strong winds.
Cumbria police are urging drivers to take care on the roads and allow for extra time for journeys today.
They added: “Where possible, avoid exposed areas of the county where the wind could cause the most disruption.”
The Met Office said: “Strong west to north westerly winds are likely to develop across a large swathe of the country.
“Quite widely winds are expected to gust 45mph to 55mph, with stronger gusts, possibly reaching 65mph to 70mph, over and to the east of high ground, mainly across the north of the warning area.
“However, the strongest winds are likely to be across the far north and northeast of Scotland, including the Northern Isles during the morning.
“Here, gusts of 70mph to 80 mph are possible for a time. Winds will slowly moderate from the west Thursday evening.”
It has been named Storm Pia by the Danish Met Institute.
Power cuts
Thousands of properties across the North West are experiencing power cuts, although Electricity North West said it has restored power to 6,800 others affected by Storm Pia.
In Cumbria, areas with power cuts are:
- Beetham – 116 properties
- Crosthwaite and Lyth – 6 properties
- Hawkshead – 51 properties
- South Lakeland – 206 properties
- Windermere – 7 properties
- Dean – 56 properties
Electricity North West is working with catering outlets to provide hot meals and drinks for those still affected. These can be found at:
- The White Hart, Wear Bridge, Ulverston, LA12 8JB
- Food van on Hawkshead car park (close to Craghoppers), LA22 0NT
