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Severe storms sweep across Wales Severe storms bring travel chaos
(about 3 hours later)
Wales is suffering storms and high winds of more than 80mph as severe weather batters the UK. Storms and gales gusting up to 80mph are causing widespread disruption and damage across Wales hitting rail, road and air services.
Winds of 81mph have been recorded at Aberdaron in the Llyn Peninsula, 76 mph in Mumbles near Swansea and 63mph at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan. Train services between London and Cardiff have been cancelled as have most flights out of Cardiff airport.
Trains between Cardiff and London Paddington are cancelled and the rail line near Chirk has also been closed because of a fallen tree. The roofs were blown off two houses at Newtown in Powys, and at least three schools are closed.
The Environment Agency said there are 12 flood warnings in place in Wales. Forecasters have said although the rain has now stopped the high winds are expected to continue into the evening.
Met Office weather forecaster Malcolm Weatherall said drivers are being advised to stay at home this morning unless their journey is absolutely necessary. Winds gusting at 81mph were recorded at Aberdaron in the Llyn Peninsula, 76 mph in Mumbles near Swansea and 63mph at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.
He said: "The bad news is the winds are going to continue for much of the day. The Environment Agency now has 13 flood warnings in force across Wales. Flood watches currently stand at 35.
Speed limit Everything at the moment is being cancelled Cardiff International Airport spokesman
"The worst of the rain is out of the way but there is some rains remaining particularly over the hills. First Great Western trains from London Paddington to Cardiff have been cancelled until 1515 while Arriva Trains Wales in north Wales has imposed a 50mph speed limit on its services.
"It could well be the evening before the winds start to ease." Network Rail say there was minor damage to a train that was hit by a tree at Chirk at 0630 GMT on the Shrewsbury to Chester rail line, but no one was injured.
The M4 Severn Bridge is closed to vehicles due to the winds, as is the Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire. There is a 50 mph speed limit on the Briton Ferry Bridge Train services between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog are suspended due to flooding at Llanrwst. Replacement road transport is in place.
One lane is blocked on the M4 westbound at Newport, between the Coldra (Junction 24) and Caerleon Road (Junction 25) following a multi-vehicle accident. High winds forced Cardiff International Airport to cancel or divert some flight with only one flight leaving on Thursday.
The gales are expected to continue for much of the day
The old Severn Bridge is closed, as is the Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire. There is a 50 mph speed limit on the Briton Ferry Bridge.
In north Wales on the A55, the Britannia Bridge is closed to high-sided vehicles and a 20mph speed limit is in place for other vehicles.In north Wales on the A55, the Britannia Bridge is closed to high-sided vehicles and a 20mph speed limit is in place for other vehicles.
Facing cancellations And in west Wales, Stena Line's 1430 ferry service between Fishguard and Rosslare is also cancelled and passengers should also check before travelling.
On the trains, the 0955 and 1015 Cardiff Central to London Paddington have been cancelled as all have services in the other direction until 1515 GMT. Meanwhile, strong winds have also blown roofs off properties with fallen trees having damaged others across south and mid Wales.
The Shrewsbury to Chester railway line has been closed after a train collided with a tree just outside Chirk Station. 'Turning colder'
Train services between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog are suspended due to flooding at Llanrwst. Replacement road transport will be in operation between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Fire crews reported two houses in Trehafren, in Newtown, had been hit and a roof was also blown off a house in Cwmrhydyceirw, Morriston, Swansea.
Five flights due to depart form Cardiff International Airport on Thursday morning and six arrivals have been cancelled. Fire crews were called to attend numerous weather-related incidents - including to three flood properties in Hengoed, south Wales and a property in Williamstown in Merthyr Tydfil.
An airport spokesperson said passengers should check ahead before they leave home. They were also called to Penallt, Monmouthshire where a tree has fallen onto power cables.
Schools closed BBC meteorologist Derek Brockway said the worst of Thursday's bad weather was now over and the winds would ease later. He said the north of the country would bear the brunt of the winds for the next couple of hours.
Stena Line's 1430 ferry service between Fishguard and Rosslare is also cancelled and passengers should also check before travelling. But, he warned, the weather looks like turning colder over the weekend.
There are reports of fallen tress blocking roads at a number of places across south Wales.
Fire crews have been called to three flood properties in Hengoed, south Wales and a property in Williamstown in Merthyr Tydfil.
They have also been called to Penallt, Monmouthshire where a tree has fallen onto power cables.
Two schools are closed.- Leighton Community Primary in Welshpool because of problems with the electricity supply and Trevethin Community in Torfaen due to the bad weather.