Storm Darragh news: Weather warnings continue as flight cancellations hit thousands amid winds near 100mph

Around 161,000 customers were still without power as of 2pm on Sunday as a result of damage caused by Storm Darragh, the Energy Networks Association said.

In its latest update, the body said 91 per cent of affected customers had now had their supplies restored by network operators.

Visitors who arrived at Birmingham’s celebrated Christmas market by rail may face major problems making the return journey, with many intercity trains cancelled as a result of the severe weather.

Between 3.30pm and 4.40pm alone, three CrossCountry Trains to Manchester have been cancelled, plus others to Edinburgh, Bristol and Cardiff.

West Midlands Trains to Hereford and Liverpool are also cancelled.

“Due to a tree falling on the overhead electric wires between Sandwell and Dudley and Wolverhampton, all lines are blocked,” says Avanti West Coast.

“Our services are currently unable to call at Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Sandwell and Dudley and Wolverhampton.”

“If your original journey was a direct service to any of the above stations then it will now involve a connection.

“For customers travelling from the north, rail replacement services are in operation between Stafford and Wolverhampton, Sandwell & Dudley and Birmingham New Street.

“For customers travelling from London Euston to any of the above stations, you may need to board a connecting service from Rugby to continue your journey.

“These alterations are expected to be in place until the end of the day.”

A woman near Rackenford, Devon, has said her family were lighting candles in the “pitch black” after going more than 24 hours without power due to Storm Darragh.

Theresa White, 55, told the PA news agency that the power went out at 12.30pm on Saturday and the family were without water other than one tap, forcing them to collect rainwater to flush the toilets.

“We had no internet and all our phone signals weren’t working, so we were basically cut off and we do live in a wooded area,” she said, adding they were too scared to leave the house on Saturday in case a tree fell on them.

Ms White said she initially felt “a bit let down” to be told by EDF that power would not be restored until 8pm on Monday, but the power returned at around 3pm on Sunday.

Transport for Wales is advising passengers to postpone journeys. The organisation says: “Storm Darragh is expected to bring heavy rain and wind and will continue today.

Some services will be cancelled in the South West Wales, and on the North Wales Coast, Heart of Wales, and Cambrian lines where the weather is expected to be the worst. Speed restrictions will apply across the route, so journeys may take longer than usual. Services on all routes are subject to cancellation, delay and alteration.”

A fallen tree between Wolverhampton and Stafford, and a landslip between Nuneaton and Tamworth, are causing problems on the West Coast main line.

In Scotland, speed restrictions are in place between Aberdeen and Inverness, Ayr and Stranraer, Edinburgh-Dundee-Aberdeen, Glasgow-Aberdeen and Glasgow-Carlisle.

Severe weather and staff shortages are combining to make Sunday another miserable day for many rail passengers in the UK.

Great Western Railway (GWR) is urging passengers to “avoid travelling if possible” as Westbury station in Wiltshire is closed due to damage to the station roof.

The rail firm is also asking passengers not to travel to Bath Christmas market on Sunday, saying: “The cancellation of Saturday’s market means larger crowds are expected. If overcrowding becomes severe, we may not be able to stop at Bath Spa station.

In Cornwall, the line from Plymouth to Penzance reopened but has now closed again “due to a large tree on both lines” at Bodmin Parkway.

For travellers between Kent, southeast London and the centre of the capital, National Rail warns: “Multiple signals have failed in the area of London Victoria. This, in combination with engineering work across the network, is causing severe disruption to many routes.”

The lines affected are all on the Southeastern side of Victoria station, not the main line serving Gatwick and Brighton.

In northern England, damage caused by a tree that fell onto overhead power lines between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds is continuing to disrupt LNER, CrossCountry and Northern services. Northern has also suspended the link between Middlesbrough and Whitby.

Residents are struggling with rising floodwater in Greyfriars Avenue in Hereford, Herefordshire, after Storm Darragh caused the River Wye to burst its banks.

Council leader Diana Toynbee posted on X: “A worrying day for residents of #Greyfriars #Hereford the #Wye now at 5.3 metres and still rising.

“Predicted to peak ‘this evening’.”

British Airways alone has grounded more than 100 short-haul international flights and 30 domestic services to and from Heathrow.

They include five round-trips to Amsterdam, and four to each of Copenhagen, Dublin and Milan.

Three flights to Aberdeen and Edinburgh and back have also been cancelled. Other airlines have grounded multiple flights at Heathrow including Lufthansa services to Frankfurt and Munich, KLM to and from Amsterdam and Aer Lingus to Cork and Dublin.

In total, at least 20,000 passengers are likely to be affected. Air passengers’ rights rules require airlines that cancel departures to provide flights on the same day if any seats are available on any carrier.

The cancelling airline must also provide meals and, if necessary, accommodation while the passenger is waiting to reach their destination.

The Independent has asked British Airways for a response. Separately, passengers on a United Airlines flight from New York Newark to London Heathrow endured a four-hour “flight to nowhere” after the Boeing 767 turned back just beyond Nova Scotia.