Dozens of flights in the UK were canceled on Saturday as Storm Kathleen brought winds of up to 110mph and caused the warmest day so far this year.
Around 140 flights to and from British airports were canceled, leaving travelers stranded in Edinburgh, Belfast, Manchester and Birmingham. The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for parts of the north-west and south-west of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Temperatures reached 20.9C in Sandton Downham, Suffolk, provisionally making it the hottest day of the year as warm air poured in from the continent.
Ellie Glacier, from the Met Office, said: “The reason the storm is causing temperatures to rise is because the storm’s position in the west of the UK is bringing southerly winds across the UK. Temperatures will be above average almost everywhere. ”
Storm Kathleen is likely to weaken by Saturday evening.
But another weather system heading southwest is expected to replace it, Glacier added. “Rain is expected to continue into Monday, mainly affecting the west of England.”
Approximately 12,000 customers remain without power in Ireland, of the 34,000 who lost power during the day due to the Kathleen earthquake last night, with P&O Ferries unable to operate services between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in Scotland. was canceled. Parts of Scotland were hit by particularly strong winds, with gusts of up to 98mph recorded in the Highlands.
The Environment Agency on Saturday issued 14 flood warnings in areas where flooding is “expected”, with 113 flood warnings in place for England and a further six flood warnings issued by National Resources Wales. The Met Office warned of injury and life-threatening risks from “large waves and beach material being thrown onto beaches, coastal roads and properties.”
RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “This period of severe weather will be extremely difficult for people driving in the west of England.”
“We strongly advise motorists to avoid exposed coastal and high-altitude routes where the effects of very strong winds are most felt.”
