Snow and ice cover UK cities as cold blast continues to disrupt travel
Flights and trains were canceled and a tornado warning was issued for today as the UK prepares to be beaten Storm Isha.
ScotRail said it all trains leaving from 7pm on Sunday will be cancelled – and there will be no rush hour services on Monday morning.
It comes later Next West Coast warned rail passengers on Sunday not to travel unless necessary and dozens of flights were cancelled, including 38 British Airways flights, due to storm.
Meanwhile, the Tornado and Storm Research Organization (Torro) warned of the potential for multiple tornadoes in Northern Ireland and Scotland, with the former at risk of a severe tornado.
“In and near the watch area, there is a risk of a few tornadoes, and strong shear means a strong tornado is possible, especially in the RoI and N Ireland,” the warning says.
Torro added that the tornado could bring gusts of up to 100 mph in some inland areas as well.
Seven weather warnings – including two rare ‘danger to life’ amber alerts – were issued by the Met Office for the whole country today.
Network Rail is closing train lines from 10pm until Monday morning
Rail operator Scotland said all its services would cease early on Sunday due to the effects of Storm Isha.
ScotRail said there will also be no Monday morning rush hour services, with an amber warning time wind advisory in effect Sunday at 6 p.m.
Network Rail says it has “taken the decision to close the network to all freight and passenger trains from 10pm tonight until Monday morning”, and services will start to be withdrawn at 7pm.
The warning was previously scheduled to come into force at 9pm but was pushed forward by the Met Office as the weather worsened.
Holly EvansJanuary 21, 2024 7:37 p.m
Amber weather warning covering most of the UK
An amber weather warning for wind is now in place across most of the UK, with gusts expected to reach up to 90mph.
The Met Office has warned there is a good chance power cuts could occur, with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage.
Damage to buildings can also occur, as well as injury and danger to life from large waves in coastal areas.
An amber weather warning for wind is now in place across much of the UK
(Met Office)
Holly EvansJanuary 21, 2024 7:01 p.m
The clock tower falls to the ground in Galway
A clock tower fell to the ground in Eyre Square, Galway, during Storm Isha, as a status red wind warning was issued for counties Donegal, Galway and Mayo.
The clock tower fell to the ground during the Isha Storm
(Niall Carson/PA Wire)
A clock tower falls to the ground in Eyre Square, Galwa
(Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Holly EvansJanuary 21, 2024 6:37 p.m
Storm Isha is wreaking havoc on rail, sea and air
Millions of travelers by rail, sea and air will find their journeys disrupted. Some intercity train companies have already issued travel warnings. In Scotland, the Irish Sea and the English Channel many ferries have been cancelled. And in heaven, British Airways canceled more than two dozen flights to and from Heathrow.
Read the full article by travel correspondent Simon Calder here
Holly EvansJanuary 21, 2024 6:05 p.m
In pictures: Storm Isha wreaks havoc in the UK
Passengers at Euston station, London, following train delays as Storm Isha brought serious disruption to rail services.
(Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Windbreakers Boscombe Pier in Dorset.
(Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
A man struggles with an umbrella in rainy conditions in Leeds.
(Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Holly EvansJanuary 21, 2024 5:52 p.m
The Met Office warns of “strong and potentially damaging gusts” of wind
Holly EvansJanuary 21, 2024 5:38 p.m
Do not attempt to travel north of Newcastle on Sunday evening or Monday morning” – LNER
LNER, which links London King’s Cross with Yorkshire, the North East of England and Scotland on the East Coast Main Line, is warning passengers not to attempt to travel north of Newcastle on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
The state-owned train operator tweeted: “Due to #StormIsha, customers traveling north of #Newcastle are advised to avoid traveling from 7pm today (Sunday 21st January) until 12pm Monday 22nd of January
“All other customers are advised to check before travelling.”
Athena StavrouJanuary 21, 2024 5:30 pm
Network Rail imposes speed restrictions of 50mph
Network Rail said speed restrictions of 50mph would be imposed on most routes as a precautionary safety measure.
“Passengers are strongly advised to check before traveling this afternoon and evening as Storm Isha is expected to bring rail travel disruption across the country,” a statement said.
“As a precautionary safety measure, Network Rail will introduce speed restrictions of 50mph on most routes from late tonight and tonight into the early hours of this morning as the worst of and storm tracks in the UK.
“This measure will keep passengers and trains safe from falling trees and debris blown onto the track, but will result in fewer services with extended journey times (usual line speeds vary from 80mph to 125mph). Specific travel advice can be found on train operator websites.
“It is likely that travel disruption will continue on Monday morning when engineers finish the cleaning operation by removing fallen trees and debris and running ‘ghost trains’ to ensure that the lines are clear before allowing the restart passenger trains”.
Holly EvansJanuary 21, 2024 5:23 p.m
“Two-way” for the British Airways flight from Amsterdam to Heathrow
Passengers flying from Amsterdam to London Heathrow on British Airways flight BA435 experienced two “stops” at their destination airport before landing at London Stansted.
The Airbus A320 from the Dutch capital first made a normal approach to the northern runway. Experiencing strong winds, the pilots decided to do a “go around” – a perfectly normal and safe procedure in which the aircraft ascends rapidly in a course that does not interfere with other planes.
The plane flew north of London and was then cleared to land on the southern runway.
After that attempt also ended in one go, the pilots diverted to Stansted Airport in Essex, where they landed normally.
(FlightRadar)
Athena StavrouJanuary 21, 2024 4:57 p.m
ScotRail: all departures after 7pm canceled – with Monday morning rush hour
ScotRail has just said that all trains leaving from 7pm tonight will be canceled – and there will be no rush hour services on Monday morning.
A statement issued at 4pm said: “With the safety of customers and staff paramount, Network Rail has taken the decision to close the railway to passenger services as the worst of the weather hits the infrastructure.
“This follows a further review of the weather forecast this afternoon, which shows that conditions will be much worse in many areas than previous forecasts had predicted.
“Customers should note that all trains departing before 7pm will complete their journey.
“Strong winds of up to 70/80 mph are expected, which could lead to trees and other debris falling onto the tracks, making conditions unsafe for trains to operate. This could also lead to trains getting stuck on the network .
“The closure of the line will continue until Monday. Each route will have to undergo a safety inspection, which means it will be later on Monday before trains can run.
“We have lifted all ticket restrictions on ScotRail services, tickets dated January 21 will be accepted for travel on January 22 and 23.”
ScotRail cancels services due to Storm Isha (Danny Lawson/PA)
(PA Archive)
Simon CalderJanuary 21, 2024 4:31 p.m
