Storm Darragh is beginning to move away from the UK – but people should still be prepared.
A yellow weather warning for wind from the Met Office remains in place until 6pm today.
It said Storm Darragh will be moving away from the UK throughout today but will continue to leave a legacy of strong north to north easterly winds across much of England and Wales.
Winds will quite widely gust to 35mph-45mph inland but locally could gust in excess of 50mph, especially over higher ground.
Around coasts, winds will gust to 50mph-60mph, perhaps locally nearer 70mph during the morning.
The wind may cause disruption to travel, with difficult driving conditions likely. Winds will very slowly ease from the north through the day.
What should I expect?
- Some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer
- Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport expected
- Some short term loss of power and other services
- Coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves
- Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges
Roads
The A66 between Brough and Scotch Corner reopened last night.
Today, at 12.15pm, our colleagues at Cumbria Road Watch reported that the A66 has closed to high sided vehicles between Brough and Bowes due to high winds.
The A6 has reopened this morning. It closed between Selside and Kendal Caravans yesterday due to a fallen tree. Westmorland & Furness Council highways crews and contractors were out first thing to clear the road.
Westmorland & Furness Council said its crews had assessed the fallen tree yesterday and determined the road was unsafe to reopen and will remain closed until today when work will be conducted during daylight hours.
Yesterday, our colleagues at Cumbria Road Watch said they were receiving reports from multiple sources that some roads across Cumbria were starting to suffer from flooding.
They said there are reports of a fallen tree on the B6413 between Brampton and Castle Carrock yesterday morning, but the road was passable with care.
A wall collapse at Bookwell Primary School in Egremont yesterday forced the road to be closed for safety.
Trains
Train operators say the storm is expected to bring significant rail disruption, with heavy rain and wind.
People are asked to check their journey in full before travelling as it may mean last services of the day are cancelled and they may not reach their destination.
The forecasted weather is expected to bring rain, wind and snow and will likely impact services across the network.
Power cuts
Electricity North West is reporting power cuts at:
- Ormside, Eden – 5 properties – team on site – estimated time of restoration 10am
- Millom Without – 20 properties – team on site – estimated time of restoration 3.30pm
- Irton With Santon – 64 properties – team on site – estimated time of restoration under review
Flood alerts and warnings
With recent wet weather the ground is saturated, and smaller watercourses remain high, these are likely to respond quickly to further rainfall. Larger watercourses and lakes were expected to continue to rise and remain high throughout yesterday.
A flood warning, meaning flooding is expected, act now, is in place for Keswick Campsite.
Lake levels are expected to remain high overnight. Areas most at risk include low lying areas bordering the shores of Derwentwater and the frontage of the Keswick Camping and Caravan Club Site. Flooding is expected throughout the night as lake levels are expected to remain high due to Storm Darragh.
Flood alerts are in place for:
Lower River Eden
Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the Lower River Eden, with low lying land and roads expected to be most affected, particularly around River Eden and its tributaries from its confluence with the River Irthing through Crosby-on-Eden and Carlisle to the Solway Firth at Rockcliffe.
Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwentwater
Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwentwater, with low lying land and roads expected to be most affected, particularly around The Upper Derwent from Seathwaite to Derwentwater.
Rivers Brathay, Rothay and Winster
Areas most at risk include Rivers Brathay, Rothay and Winster and other watercourses, from Grasmere to Grange-over-Sands including low lying areas around Ambleside, Skelwith Bridge, Windermere, Hawkshead, Newby Bridge, Backbarrow, Cark and Cartmel.
Rivers Duddon, Crake and Mill Beck
Areas most at risk include Rivers Duddon, Crake and Mill Beck and other watercourses, from Coniston to Barrow-in-Furness including low lying areas around Ulpha, Duddon Bridge, Broughton in Furness, Kirkby-in-Furness, Dalton in Furness and Ulverston.
Events/other
Organisers of Taste Cumbria in Cockermouth cancelled the weekend event earlier this week.
It is hoped Whinlatter Forest will reopen once the trails have been checked this morning.
Sport – including Carlisle United & Barrow AFC matches – did not go ahead yesterday.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s Santa Trains were cancelled yesterday and plans are in place to run the usual line clearance/track inspection train at around 8.10am today. If there is no blockage or damage to the line, all Santa trains will run as scheduled today.
Barrow’s Santa Express train was postponed yesterday. It will hopefully run today from 10am to 4pm and Monday from noon to 4pm.
Workington’s Christmas tree outside the town hall is down – it is not damaged but the decision has been made to leave it down until the storm passes.
