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UK hit by strong gales and storms UK hit by strong gales and storms
(about 4 hours later)
Severe gales and heavy rain have caused havoc across the UK, with winds of up to 100mph.Severe gales and heavy rain have caused havoc across the UK, with winds of up to 100mph.
Exposed parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales saw the worst of the conditions into the evening.Exposed parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales saw the worst of the conditions into the evening.
In Downpatrick, a motorist died when a tree fell on her car while Northern Ireland Electricity says 15,000 homes are without power.In Downpatrick, a motorist died when a tree fell on her car while Northern Ireland Electricity says 15,000 homes are without power.
However, forecasters say the weather is expected to become calmer in most parts of the UK later. Forecasters said snow showers were expected in Cumbria overnight, with the rest of the UK becoming calmer.
The dead motorist was a woman in her 30s whose car was struck by a tree on Strangford Road in Downpatrick at 1600 GMT on Saturday.The dead motorist was a woman in her 30s whose car was struck by a tree on Strangford Road in Downpatrick at 1600 GMT on Saturday.
Surfer rescueSurfer rescue
Northern Ireland Electricity said major faults had been reported in Craigavon and Downpatrick, while Ballyclare and Bangor were also affected.Northern Ireland Electricity said major faults had been reported in Craigavon and Downpatrick, while Ballyclare and Bangor were also affected.
Some homes in Newry were left without power for a time, but that has since been restored.Some homes in Newry were left without power for a time, but that has since been restored.
At one stage up to 70,000 homes were also left without electricity in the Republic of Ireland.
Meanwhile, a surfer had to be rescued after drifting a mile out to sea off the Kintyre coast at Machrihanish.Meanwhile, a surfer had to be rescued after drifting a mile out to sea off the Kintyre coast at Machrihanish.
The 22-year-old was rescued by a helicopter crew just before 1700 GMT on Saturday after being caught up in heavy storms.The 22-year-old was rescued by a helicopter crew just before 1700 GMT on Saturday after being caught up in heavy storms.
He was taken to hospital with suspected mild hypothermia.He was taken to hospital with suspected mild hypothermia.
A coastguard spokesman said the wind had whipped up to force 11, one grade below hurricane conditions.A coastguard spokesman said the wind had whipped up to force 11, one grade below hurricane conditions.
"There were two guys, and one of them lost sight of his mate and got washed out."There were two guys, and one of them lost sight of his mate and got washed out.
"We got things going and he was located by the Prestwick helicopter just before it got dark, so he was very lucky.""We got things going and he was located by the Prestwick helicopter just before it got dark, so he was very lucky."
In Scotland's Western Isles, people were told not to travel because of severe gales in the Outer Hebrides.In Scotland's Western Isles, people were told not to travel because of severe gales in the Outer Hebrides.
In western Wales, forecasters warned of winds gusting up to 70mph which were strong enough to cause structural damage to buildings.In western Wales, forecasters warned of winds gusting up to 70mph which were strong enough to cause structural damage to buildings.
In Devon and Cornwall, winds brought down power lines, telegraph poles, trees and scaffolding in parts of Cornwall and Devon, causing some road closures.
Wind chillWind chill
The wet, blustery weather is being caused by a deep Atlantic depression very close to the north west of Scotland. The wet, blustery weather was caused by a deep Atlantic depression very close to the north west of Scotland.
Conditions were forecast to be calmer later as the low pressure moves to the north, but some wintry showers are expected. Daniel Corbett of the BBC Weather Centre said: "The weather system which brought the rain and the wind has moved away from the north coast of Scotland."
The BBC Weather Centre's Rob McElwee said there would be more outbreaks of rain across the whole of the UK. But he said there would be wintry showers across northern England overnight.
He said Northern Ireland and Scotland could expect to see some sleet with several centimetres of snow falling in the Highlands.
Mr McElwee said: "It is going to feel quite cold. It will be about 6-7C but with the added wind chill, it will feel closer to freezing."
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Send your weather pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your weather pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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