High winds and heavy rain from Storm Darragh have caused significant disruption across the UK, leaving tens of thousands without power and forcing widespread travel cancellations. The storm, which brought gusts of nearly 90 mph, prompted the UK’s Met Office to issue a rare red alert for parts of Wales and southwest England, warning residents of life-threatening conditions.
More than three million people received emergency alerts on their phones, urging them to stay indoors on Friday night. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the situation as “challenging,” advising the public to take the alerts seriously. “About three million homes will have had the emergency alert system to their mobile phone. I would just encourage anyone who has had that to follow the advice,” Reynolds said in a statement.
The storm knocked out power to over 86,000 homes across England, Scotland, and Wales, with Wales alone experiencing gusts up to 150 km/h (93 mph). Over 50,000 residents in the region were affected, according to the PA news agency. In Northern Ireland, thousands also faced power outages, and transport services were heavily disrupted, including train cancellations on the Welsh northern coast due to fallen trees and the closure of major bridges in southern England and Wales.
Network Rail Wales confirmed the suspension of rail services along key routes, citing safety concerns. Similarly, Dublin Airport in Ireland reported the cancellation of several Saturday morning flights, while 400,000 people across the country were left without electricity.
The severe weather led to the postponement of Christmas markets and sporting events, including the highly anticipated Merseyside derby between Premier League leaders Liverpool and Everton. A separate amber warning, indicating a potential risk to life and property, remains in place across a broader area of the UK and Northern Ireland until Saturday night.
Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm of the season and comes just two weeks after Storm Bert caused widespread flooding and power outages in Britain and Ireland. As heavy rains persist, authorities have issued over 100 flood warnings across the UK, urging residents to remain vigilant.
