Storm Chandra latest: ‘Danger to life’ flood warning and travel chaos as Met Office issues UK weather alerts

The overnight ferries between Liverpool and Belfast ferry in both directions on Stena Line were cancelled. The morning sailing from Belfast to Liverpool will also be staying in port.

From Cairnryan to Larne and Belfast in the north of the Irish Sea to links from Fishguard and Pembroke to Rosslare in the south, almost all sailings are cancelled until late afternoon – with most subsequent departures “in doubt”.

In Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne has cancelled all sailings from Oban to Mull and onwards to Iona, Oban to Barra, Coll and Tiree, Ullapool to Stornoway and many other departures.

Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled because of Storm Chandra. The worst-hit airport is Belfast City, which is in the middle of the area affected by the Met Office amber warning for high winds.

At least 27 flights across the Irish Sea to Great Britain have been grounded: 18 Aer Lingus Regional links to a range of British airports, as well as nine British Airways arrivals and departures serving London.

The Scottish airline Loganair has grounded a dozen flights, including links from Manchester to Newquay, Manchester and Liverpool to the Isle of Man, and Glasgow to Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree.

Under air passengers’ rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline, and to be provided with meals and hotels until they get there.

Chris Wilding is the Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency and said: “Due to the arrival of Storm Chandra, significant surface water flooding impacts are probable today and tomorrow in the south west of England, and tomorrow there is a significant risk of river flooding impacts too.

“Elsewhere, it is possible that there will be impacts across parts of the north, south and south east of England tomorrow.

“Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and support those communities affected. We urge people not to drive though flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.”

A severe flood warning, meaning there could be a danger to life, has been issued for the River otter (Lower) at Ottery St Mary in Devon.

More than 100 flood warnings are in place across England in preparation for Storm Chandra, while another 193 less severe flood alerts have been issued.

These are scattered throughout England and near the Welsh border, with several warnings issued across the south of the country.

National Highways said the A66 is closed between the A67 near Bowes in County Durham and the A685 near Brough in Cumbria because of snow.

Drivers travelling across the Pennines are advised to “plan ahead and consider alternate routes”.

Devon and Cornwall Police said there was “significant surface water and areas of flooding across parts of the force” due to Storm Chandra.

“There is widespread disruption of the roads particularly across Exeter, East and Mid Devon this morning, with many roads becoming impassable,” a police spokesman said.

“Please do not travel in those areas – Exeter, East and Mid Devon – at this time unless you urgently need to.

“We are experiencing an increase in reports of people coming up against flood water.

“Please do not attempt to drive through it. The weather is improving but rivers are still responding to earlier heavy rainfall.”

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There are multiple road closures in south-west England because of flooding.

National Highways said “significant flooding” has closed the A30 in Devon between the B3174/B3180 junctions near Ottery St Mary and the B3184 for Exeter airport.

It said: “Standing water has made the route impassable, and conditions remain hazardous.

“Crews are monitoring water levels and working to restore safe conditions when possible.”

The A303 is closed between the A30 at Upottery in Devon and the A358 at Horton Cross, Somerset.

In Dorset, the A35 is closed in both directions between the A352 Max Gate junction and the B3150 Stinsford roundabout near Dorchester.

Belfast City Airport have been forced to cancel a number of flights due to the adverse weather conditions.

Northern Ireland currently has an amber wind warning in place for Antrim, Down and Londonderry from 05:00 GMT to 21:00.

A picture of their departures and arrivals board shows flight cancellations from London Heathrow, Edinburgh and Manchester.

In a post on X yesterday, the airport warned of possible disruption and advised passengers to check the status of their flight before travelling.

National Rail Enquiries said a number of railway lines are closed because of flooding.

– Between Par and Newquay in Cornwall.

– Between Castle Cary and Taunton in Somerset.

– Between Salisbury in Wiltshire and both Southampton Central and Romsey in Hampshire.

– Between Eastleigh and Fareham in Hampshire.

– Between Exeter St Davids and both Okehampton and Barnstaple in Devon.

Transport for Wales said a tree is blocking the railway at Llanbister Road station near Llangunllo in Powys, meaning there are no services between Swansea and Shrewsbury.