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| Storm Doris 'weather bomb' brings snow, gales and travel disruption – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.19am GMT | |
| 09:19 | |
| Storm Doris declared a 'weather bomb' | |
| It’s official Storm Doris is a weather bomb, according to the Met Office. | |
| #StormDoris has rapidly deepened over the last 24 hours as it has under gone what we call Explosive Cyclogenisis making it a #WeatherBomb pic.twitter.com/U7VI7WDGtT | |
| What is a weather bomb? The Met Office provides this definition: | |
| A ‘weather bomb’ is not a perfect meteorological term but is defined as an intense low pressure system with a central pressure that falls 24 millibars in a 24-hour period. A better description can be more directly linked to the meteorological phenomena known as rapid or explosive cyclogenesis. This is where dry air from the stratosphere flows into an area of low pressure. This causes air within the depression to rise very quickly and increases its rotation, which in turn deepens the pressure and creates a more vigorous storm. | |
| 9.11am GMT | |
| 09:11 | |
| Glasgow to Stirling motorway closed | |
| The M80 northbound in Scotland between Glasgow and Stirling has been closed due to snow. | |
| ⚠UPDATE⚠#M80 is now ⛔CLOSED⛔ N/B after J5 Auchenkilns & S/B from J9 Bannockburn due to snow ❄⛄#AVOID #DriveSafe#Central @BEAR_M80 pic.twitter.com/qa1U4be6YS | |
| And here’s the wintry scene on the M9 near Falkirk. | |
| 9.04am GMT | |
| 09:04 | |
| Henry McDonald | |
| Almost 50,000 homes in the Irish Republic are without power this morning mainly due to Storm Doris felling trees knocking down power lines, writes Henry McDonald. | |
| The Republic’s Electricity Supply Board said the power outages are in counties Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo and Dublin. Irish airline Aer Lingus has cancelled 12 flights between Ireland and Britain today. | |
| A yellow weather warning has been issued for the Republic by Met Eireann with winds of up to 120km per hour (75mph0 blowing across the country. | |
| There are also reports this morning that fallen debris will cause disruptions on the Belfast to Dublin rail link today. In Northern Ireland some flights from George Best Belfast City Airport have been cancelled. | |
| 9.00am GMT | |
| 09:00 | |
| Google Trends has compiled a list of the five most Storm Doris-related questions asked on the search engine in the last 24 hours. | |
| "Where will Storm Doris hit?" Top questions in the UK on #StormDoris in the last 24 hours pic.twitter.com/XdYWNSCYBV | |
| Here are the answers: | |
| 1 The Met Office selects names from a list submitted on social media. This winter’s list began with a male name starting with A - Angus and moved through the list alternating between male and female names. So far we have had Angus, Barbara, Conor and now Doris. | |
| 2 About now. It should all be over by this evening. | |
| 3 The Met Office and the public via social media | |
| 4 Storm Doris is the fourth named storm of the season and likely to be worst storm of winter so far. It is a westerly weather system that has “rapidly deepened” over the last 24 hours, prompting the Met Office to warn of gusts up 80mph to much of England and Wales and snow of up to 30cm to Scotland. | |
| #StormDoris has rapidly deepened over the last 24 hours as it has under gone what we call Explosive Cyclogenisis making it a #WeatherBomb pic.twitter.com/U7VI7WDGtT | |
| 5 The worst of the snow will be in central and southern Scotlan and the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland. The worst of the wind will hit north Wales, North West England, the Midlands and East Anglia. | |
| An Amber severe weather warning for #wind has been updated: https://t.co/jTkOo9Ials . Stay #weatheraware @metofficeuk pic.twitter.com/5wGfgkUIvo | |
| 8.36am GMT | 8.36am GMT |
| 08:36 | 08:36 |
| Nazia Parveen | Nazia Parveen |
| Yorkshire and north west England is bracing itself for extreme winds as an amber weather warning has been issued for the whole area including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull, writes Nazia Parveen. | Yorkshire and north west England is bracing itself for extreme winds as an amber weather warning has been issued for the whole area including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull, writes Nazia Parveen. |
| Highways England issued an alert for major roads in the area including the M1 and M62.Motorists were warned to expect widespread travel disruption, power cuts and flying debris. | Highways England issued an alert for major roads in the area including the M1 and M62.Motorists were warned to expect widespread travel disruption, power cuts and flying debris. |
| It said there was a particularly high risk for high-sided lorries, caravans and motorbikes and urged drivers to avoid travelling whilst its alert was in place between 6am and 6pm today. | It said there was a particularly high risk for high-sided lorries, caravans and motorbikes and urged drivers to avoid travelling whilst its alert was in place between 6am and 6pm today. |
| In Merseyside police issued a warning to avoid coastal routes and some train services were also disrupted. | In Merseyside police issued a warning to avoid coastal routes and some train services were also disrupted. |
| High winds of Storm Doris set to continue until 6:00pm. Drivers of high sided vehicles & motorcycles should avoid the coast road if possible | High winds of Storm Doris set to continue until 6:00pm. Drivers of high sided vehicles & motorcycles should avoid the coast road if possible |
| Richard Leonard, Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, said: “We’re expecting Storm Doris to have a significant impact on the roads throughout the day so are urging drivers to consider changing their plans if necessary and to slow down in stormy weather.” | Richard Leonard, Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, said: “We’re expecting Storm Doris to have a significant impact on the roads throughout the day so are urging drivers to consider changing their plans if necessary and to slow down in stormy weather.” |
| Some trains in the area were also disrupted with Transpennine Express services between York and Newcastle cancelled from 10.45. | Some trains in the area were also disrupted with Transpennine Express services between York and Newcastle cancelled from 10.45. |
| Northern Rail said some of their services may be also be cancelled. | Northern Rail said some of their services may be also be cancelled. |
| A statement on their website reads: “Storm Doris is expected to bring severe weather across the North. “We will make every effort to run as many services as possible. However, some services may be cancelled and we expect journeys to take longer than usual due to speed restrictions on many lines. | A statement on their website reads: “Storm Doris is expected to bring severe weather across the North. “We will make every effort to run as many services as possible. However, some services may be cancelled and we expect journeys to take longer than usual due to speed restrictions on many lines. |
| “To help minimise disruption, you can use your ticket to travel on any train operator’s services running on the same route. Please be prepared, give yourself extra time and check before you travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk “ | “To help minimise disruption, you can use your ticket to travel on any train operator’s services running on the same route. Please be prepared, give yourself extra time and check before you travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk “ |
| A 8.40am British Airways flight from Leeds Bradford Airport to London Heathrow was also cancelled. | A 8.40am British Airways flight from Leeds Bradford Airport to London Heathrow was also cancelled. |
| A Leeds Bradford Airport spokeswoman said: “We are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast and we ask that passengers look at our website but also contact their airlines if they have any other queries.” | A Leeds Bradford Airport spokeswoman said: “We are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast and we ask that passengers look at our website but also contact their airlines if they have any other queries.” |
| 8.30am GMT | 8.30am GMT |
| 08:30 | 08:30 |
| The areas forecast for the worst of the storm include Stoke-on-Trent Central and Copeland where byelections are taking place. There are fears that the storm could hit turnout. | The areas forecast for the worst of the storm include Stoke-on-Trent Central and Copeland where byelections are taking place. There are fears that the storm could hit turnout. |
| The byelection in Stoke Central was caused by the resignation of Tristram Hunt. In 2015 he had the lowest electoral mandate of all the MPs in the Commons. | The byelection in Stoke Central was caused by the resignation of Tristram Hunt. In 2015 he had the lowest electoral mandate of all the MPs in the Commons. |
| Even before the storm was forecast there were fears that the Stoke byelection could beat the record low turnout of 18.2% recorded at the Manchester Central byelection in 2012. | Even before the storm was forecast there were fears that the Stoke byelection could beat the record low turnout of 18.2% recorded at the Manchester Central byelection in 2012. |
| In Copeland collecting ballot boxes from some of the higher areas of the Cumbria constituency could be an additional problem if they get snowed in. | In Copeland collecting ballot boxes from some of the higher areas of the Cumbria constituency could be an additional problem if they get snowed in. |
| Low turn out is likely to hit Labour in both constituencies, but the link between weather and turnout is a bit of myth, according to the New Statesman’s Stephanie Boland. But she adds: | Low turn out is likely to hit Labour in both constituencies, but the link between weather and turnout is a bit of myth, according to the New Statesman’s Stephanie Boland. But she adds: |
| There is one caveat, however. “If you had a January snowstorm”, says John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde, “it would make a difference but for the most part the weather is mildly inclement at these times of year [when general elections are held]. So you might need to take a brolly with you or you might have sunshine but you won’t have a howling gale or snow or serious travel disruption.” | There is one caveat, however. “If you had a January snowstorm”, says John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde, “it would make a difference but for the most part the weather is mildly inclement at these times of year [when general elections are held]. So you might need to take a brolly with you or you might have sunshine but you won’t have a howling gale or snow or serious travel disruption.” |
| That last point is important. While rain might not put people off voting, difficulties getting to the polling station can. So a truly chaotic storm could affect a result. | That last point is important. While rain might not put people off voting, difficulties getting to the polling station can. So a truly chaotic storm could affect a result. |
| 8.17am GMT | 8.17am GMT |
| 08:17 | 08:17 |
| There has been no sign yet of the deep snow forecast for parts of Scotland and Northumberland, but some of the higher roads have already had dusting of snow. | There has been no sign yet of the deep snow forecast for parts of Scotland and Northumberland, but some of the higher roads have already had dusting of snow. |
| Snow falling on the A68 at Soutra at 6.50am this morning. Please take care if heading this way. pic.twitter.com/thXix0Iayb | Snow falling on the A68 at Soutra at 6.50am this morning. Please take care if heading this way. pic.twitter.com/thXix0Iayb |
| Snow ploughs and gritters have been out in force. | Snow ploughs and gritters have been out in force. |
| Higher sections of the #A9,#A85,#A83,#A9 and #A889 have snow but the ploughs are out on all routes. #stormdoris | Higher sections of the #A9,#A85,#A83,#A9 and #A889 have snow but the ploughs are out on all routes. #stormdoris |
| We have 32 gritters and 7 tractors out on the Network at the moment patrolling and treating where required. Snow possible in all areas | We have 32 gritters and 7 tractors out on the Network at the moment patrolling and treating where required. Snow possible in all areas |
| 8.04am GMT | 8.04am GMT |
| 08:04 | 08:04 |
| Warnings of violent storm force 11 winds have been issued in the western shipping areas of Rockall, Shannon and Irish Sea. This is just one notch down hurricane force 12 winds. | Warnings of violent storm force 11 winds have been issued in the western shipping areas of Rockall, Shannon and Irish Sea. This is just one notch down hurricane force 12 winds. |
| The phrase “cyclonic severe gale” cropped up a lot in the latest Shipping Forecast. | The phrase “cyclonic severe gale” cropped up a lot in the latest Shipping Forecast. |
| 7.57am GMT | 7.57am GMT |
| 07:57 | 07:57 |
| Speed restrictions have been imposed on the Tay Road and the Forth Road bridges in Scotland. | Speed restrictions have been imposed on the Tay Road and the Forth Road bridges in Scotland. |
| High Winds – Bridge Closed to Double Decker Buses, 30mph speed restriction in place. (06:57 23/02/2017) | High Winds – Bridge Closed to Double Decker Buses, 30mph speed restriction in place. (06:57 23/02/2017) |
| High winds – Speed restriction on bridge (05:19 GMT 23/02/2017) | High winds – Speed restriction on bridge (05:19 GMT 23/02/2017) |
| 7.50am GMT | 7.50am GMT |
| 07:50 | 07:50 |
| Welcome to live coverage on the impact of Storm Doris as it hurtles into the UK bringing snow, gusts of up to 87mph winds and widespread travel problems. | Welcome to live coverage on the impact of Storm Doris as it hurtles into the UK bringing snow, gusts of up to 87mph winds and widespread travel problems. |
| You have been warned ... the Met Office has issued two amber be prepared warnings - one for up to 30cm of snow in Scotland and parts of Northumberland, and one for winds of up to 80mph in Wales, the Midlands, Northern England and East Anglia. | You have been warned ... the Met Office has issued two amber be prepared warnings - one for up to 30cm of snow in Scotland and parts of Northumberland, and one for winds of up to 80mph in Wales, the Midlands, Northern England and East Anglia. |
| So far a gust of 87mph gust was recorded at Mace Head on the Galway coast, Ireland on the leading edge of the storm. And Aer Lingus cancelled 12 flights between the UK and the Republic of Ireland in anticipation of the winds. Heathrow airport is warning customers to check their flights before travelling. | So far a gust of 87mph gust was recorded at Mace Head on the Galway coast, Ireland on the leading edge of the storm. And Aer Lingus cancelled 12 flights between the UK and the Republic of Ireland in anticipation of the winds. Heathrow airport is warning customers to check their flights before travelling. |
| Network Rail warned of delays and cancellations after imposing speed restrictions for safety reasons. | Network Rail warned of delays and cancellations after imposing speed restrictions for safety reasons. |
| Limits of 50mph have set on some services run by Southeastern, Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, Grand Central, TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains East Coast. | Limits of 50mph have set on some services run by Southeastern, Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, Grand Central, TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains East Coast. |
| We will bring you all the latest on what is expected to be eventful ‘Doris Day’. | We will bring you all the latest on what is expected to be eventful ‘Doris Day’. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.52am GMT | at 7.52am GMT |