'Danger to life' warning issued as Storm Bram sweeps over UK and Ireland
A 'danger to life' warning has been put in place in parts of the UK as Storm Bram is expected to cause flooding, power cuts and flying debris.
The Met Office has warned of severe weather conditions, including up to 100mm of rainfall and winds reaching 90mph in the coming days, with Met Office Chief Forecaster, Dan Suri, saying: "Storm Bram will bring a very wet and windy spell of weather, with very strong winds and further heavy rain which falling over saturated ground, could cause flooding impacts."
Forecasters have issued 10 weather warnings, including amber rain warnings in parts of south Wales and south-west England, where flooding is likely.
People travelling in the area are urged to take care and, where possible, avoid travelling by road. For those who have no choice but to travel, experts are advising people to carry a flood kit with them, containing insurance documents, a torch, spare batteries, a first aid kit and any prescription medicines.
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The kits should also include food and water supplies, warm and waterproof clothing, and anything needed to care for family members and pets they may be travelling with.
Meanwhile, those staying home are being advised to protect their homes by securing any loose items, including bins and any garden furniture or items lying around.
According to the Met Office, the current danger to life warning predominantly affects Northern Ireland, where residents are being told to expect power cuts and mobile phone service issues, damage to buildings, including roofs being blown off, and power lines being brought down.
There is also a high risk of roads, bridges and railway lines being forced to close, and flying debris causing a risk to life.
Transport links are already facing mass disruption after dozens of flights to and from Belfast and Dublin have been cancelled, and rail services are disrupted in parts of Wales, Scotland and south-west England, including some services in London, the BBC reports.
Several ferry services have also been cancelled in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
Meanwhile, the Isle of Man's Mountain Road, which connects Douglas and Ramsey, has been forced to close from 1pm today (9 December) due to severe winds, while the M48's Severn Bridge, which links England and Wales, has also been closed as a result of strong winds.
National Highways explained that the closure was because the 'Severn Estuary can funnel strong gusts across the bridges, which can be hazardous to traffic'.
Transport Scotland has introduced several restrictions on bridges when amber wind warnings come into play later in the day, with the Skye Bridge expected to close for all vehicles.
Sadly, there have already been reports of road accidents believed to have been caused by the storm, with a section of the M66 in Greater Manchester closed after a multi-vehicle crash caused by floodwater.
Emma Rosemurgey