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Severe storms bring travel chaos 25,000 lose power as storm hits
(about 1 hour later)
Storms and gales gusting up to 80mph are causing widespread disruption and damage across Wales hitting rail, road and air services. Thousands of homes in Wales have lost power after heavy rain and winds reaching more than 80mph brought down power lines.
Train services between London and Cardiff have been cancelled as have most flights out of Cardiff airport. Electricity company Scottish Power said some 25,000 homes across north and mid Wales and on Merseyside had been hit.
The roofs were blown off two houses at Newtown in Powys, and at least three schools are closed. There is widespread disruption on the roads and rail lines from fallen trees and flooding.
Forecasters have said although the rain has now stopped the high winds are expected to continue into the evening. Flights from Cardiff International Airport have been hit, along with rail services in and out of Wales.
Winds gusting at 85 mph were recorded at Capel Curig in Snowdonia, 76 mph in Mumbles near Swansea, and 63mph at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan. Environment Agency Wales has 13 flood warnings and 35 flood watches in force.
The Environment Agency now has 13 flood warnings in force across Wales. Flood watches currently stand at 35. Scottish Power is dealing with 100 separate incidents in mid and north Wales, many of them isolated households.
Everything at the moment is being cancelled Cardiff International Airport spokesmanEverything at the moment is being cancelled Cardiff International Airport spokesman
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 has set up five emergency centres, including at Aberystwyth, Dolgellau and Wrexham from where they will co-ordinate engineers to do repair work. Extra staff are being drafted in from across the UK.
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 area hit by power cuts appears to stretch through mid Wales to south Clwyd. Half the village of Llanuwchllyn near Bala is without electricity but the village school is still open.
Train services between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog are suspended due to flooding at Llanrwst. Replacement road transport is in place. Train services between London and Cardiff have been cancelled, as have most flights out of Cardiff airport.
High winds forced Cardiff International Airport to cancel or divert some flight with only one flight leaving on Thursday. The roofs were blown off two houses at Newtown in Powys, and at least three schools were closed.
Forecasters said although the rain had now stopped the high winds were expected to continue into the evening.
Train services suspended
Winds gusting at 85 mph were recorded at Capel Curig in Snowdonia, 76 mph in Mumbles near Swansea, and 63mph at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.
First Great Western trains from London Paddington to Cardiff were cancelled until 1515 while Arriva Trains Wales in north Wales imposed a 50mph speed limit on its services.
Network Rail said there was minor damage to a train hit by a tree at Chirk at 0630 GMT on the Shrewsbury to Chester rail line, but no-one was injured.
Train services between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog were suspended due to flooding at Llanrwst. Replacement road transport is in place.
High winds forced Cardiff International Airport to cancel or divert flights, with only one flight leaving on Thursday.
Drivers brave the battered sea front at Aberavon in south west WalesDrivers brave the battered sea front at Aberavon in south west Wales
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. The old Severn Bridge was closed, as was the Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire. There was 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 was closed to high-sided vehicles and a 20mph speed limit was in place for other vehicles.
And in west Wales, Stena Line's 1430 ferry service between Fishguard and Rosslare is also cancelled and passengers should also check before travelling. Stena Line's 1430 ferry service between Fishguard and Rosslare was also cancelled and passengers should check before travelling.
Meanwhile, strong winds have also blown roofs off properties with fallen trees having damaged others across south and mid Wales. Meanwhile, strong winds blew roofs off properties, with fallen trees having damaged others across south and mid Wales.
'Turning colder''Turning colder'
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.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.
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. Fire crews were called to three flooded properties in Hengoed, south Wales and one in Williamstown in Merthyr Tydfil.
They were also called to Penallt, Monmouthshire where a tree has fallen onto power cables. An articulated lorry was blown onto its side in high winds near Chirk on a bridge on the A5 northbound. The bridge was closed and traffic diverted
Crews were also called to Penallt, Monmouthshire where a tree has fallen onto power cables.
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.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.
But, he warned, the weather looks like turning colder over the weekend. But he warned that the weather looked like turning colder over the weekend.