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| UK pounded by second severe storm | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland, north Wales and north-west England are being pounded by gales and heavy rain in the second band of storms to hit the UK in three days. | Northern Ireland, north Wales and north-west England are being pounded by gales and heavy rain in the second band of storms to hit the UK in three days. |
| Forecasters say gusts of up to 80mph have hit Northern Ireland as the Atlantic weather front moves eastwards. | Forecasters say gusts of up to 80mph have hit Northern Ireland as the Atlantic weather front moves eastwards. |
| Motorists faced chaos as several major bridges were affected by the gales and some areas were placed on flood alert. | Motorists faced chaos as several major bridges were affected by the gales and some areas were placed on flood alert. |
| The second day of the prestigious Cheltenham horse racing festival has been abandoned because of the weather. | The second day of the prestigious Cheltenham horse racing festival has been abandoned because of the weather. |
| The course is in good condition but fierce winds made the huge marquees in the tented hospitality area unsafe. | The course is in good condition but fierce winds made the huge marquees in the tented hospitality area unsafe. |
| The 55,000 people expected to attend the day's racing will get a full refund and the course is considering increasing its capacity for the rest of the week. | The 55,000 people expected to attend the day's racing will get a full refund and the course is considering increasing its capacity for the rest of the week. |
| Travel chaos | Travel chaos |
| In Cheshire, the M6 Thelwall Viaduct closed after three lorries overturned but there were no casualties. | In Cheshire, the M6 Thelwall Viaduct closed after three lorries overturned but there were no casualties. |
| The vehicles have been cleared but the eight-lane stretch of the motorway spanning the Mersey and the Manchester ship canal is still closed at Thelwall because of the danger from high winds. | The vehicles have been cleared but the eight-lane stretch of the motorway spanning the Mersey and the Manchester ship canal is still closed at Thelwall because of the danger from high winds. |
| The winds will start to abate as the morning goes on but it will be very slow Steve CrosthwaiteHighways Agency Cheltenham races called off class="" href="/1/hi/england/7291239.stm">Gales hit rail services class="" href="7291223">Gales cause travel chaos class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/7290424.stm">Homes left without electricity | |
| There are two-mile tailbacks in both directions. | |
| High-sided vehicles are being advised against using the A533 Runcorn-Widnes bridge. | High-sided vehicles are being advised against using the A533 Runcorn-Widnes bridge. |
| The Humber Bridge is shut to high-sided vehicles and has a 30mph speed limit for all other vehicles. | The Humber Bridge is shut to high-sided vehicles and has a 30mph speed limit for all other vehicles. |
| Some 750 homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, and gusts of 85mph have been recorded in north Wales | Some 750 homes have been left without power in Northern Ireland, and gusts of 85mph have been recorded in north Wales |
| A tree fell on to a coach in high winds on the A26 near Uckfield in East Sussex at 0735 GMT. | A tree fell on to a coach in high winds on the A26 near Uckfield in East Sussex at 0735 GMT. |
| Sussex Police said the vehicle was empty apart from the driver, and no one was injured. | Sussex Police said the vehicle was empty apart from the driver, and no one was injured. |
| Severe gales | Severe gales |
| Ian Jackson, from Liverpool coastguard, said the storms were likely to continue in the North West for most of the day. | Ian Jackson, from Liverpool coastguard, said the storms were likely to continue in the North West for most of the day. |
| He said: "The forecast is for the wind to decrease to force five, then perhaps come up again to force seven later on today." | He said: "The forecast is for the wind to decrease to force five, then perhaps come up again to force seven later on today." |
| Steve Crosthwaite, of the Highways Agency, is tracking the progress of the storm. | Steve Crosthwaite, of the Highways Agency, is tracking the progress of the storm. |
| He said: "The winds will start to abate as the morning goes on but it will be very slow. | He said: "The winds will start to abate as the morning goes on but it will be very slow. |
| "But as the winds go over the Pennines, round about late morning and early afternoon, the eastern side of the country will start getting hit as well." | "But as the winds go over the Pennines, round about late morning and early afternoon, the eastern side of the country will start getting hit as well." |
| The Met Office has warnings of severe gales for all of the UK except northern Scotland and southern England. | The Met Office has warnings of severe gales for all of the UK except northern Scotland and southern England. |
| Snow risk | Snow risk |
| The Environment Agency has three flood warnings and 24 flood watches in place. | |
| BBC weather forecasters say a low pressure front could even bring snow to higher ground in parts of northern England and southern Scotland. | BBC weather forecasters say a low pressure front could even bring snow to higher ground in parts of northern England and southern Scotland. |
| Later on Wednesday, the storms will move across central northern England and East Anglia. | Later on Wednesday, the storms will move across central northern England and East Anglia. |
| Areas further south, which are still clearing up after Monday's storms, escaped the worst of the weather this time. | Areas further south, which are still clearing up after Monday's storms, escaped the worst of the weather this time. |
| The Energy Networks Association said of the 30,000 people who lost power in those storms just "a few hundred" in the east of England were still without supply. | |
Have you been affected by the latest storms? Has your home or property been damaged? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by the latest storms? Has your home or property been damaged? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |