Storm Callum batters the UK, bringing power cuts and widespread disruption

Storm Callum has started its attack on the UK, lashing parts of the country with torrential rain and winds up to 76mph.

The highest speeds were recorded on the Isles of Scilly in the early hours of Friday morning, while 60mph gales were recorded in Camborne in Cornwall and Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.

Flights were cancelled at Cardiff, Exeter Airports, Belfast City and Dublin Airports on Friday morning while rail passengers in Wales and the South West of England were warned of disruption to services due to high winds.

Western Power Distribution said more than 950 homes had been left without electricity in south-west England and nearly 100 were without power in south Wales, while thousands of homes and businesses across Northern Ireland were also without electricity as a result of the storm.

The Met Office has warned that heavy rainfall moving in from the South West could present a risk to life and issued a 36-hour amber warning for Wales.

It has issued a series of weather warnings stretching from the north-west coast of Scotland to Land’s End, including Northern Ireland, while a number of flood warnings and alerts are in force across south-west England and south Wales.

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Some communities are at risk of being cut off by flooding, while there are concerns that high winds will continue to cause disruption.

Despite concerns, it looks like the Royal wedding could escape the worst of the storm.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkhill said: “We’ve got a wind warning which covers all the western side of the UK. That in itself is likely to bring disruption to roads and there is likely to be some bridge closures and power outages.

“We also have yellow and amber warnings of between 50mm and 150mm of rain for Wales. That’s quite a substantial amount of rain to come and could bring flooding.”

The amber warning remains in place until 6pm on Saturday, while the broader yellow rain and wind warnings that include parts of north-west and south-west England, western Scotland and Northern Ireland will remain in place until midnight on Friday.

Whitchurch in Pembrokeshire saw 15mm of rain fall in a matter of hours on Friday morning as Michael moved in.

Rainfall totals could reach as high as 150mm over the Brecon Beacons, nearly as high as the monthly average of 170mm for Wales.

The high winds, combined with heavy rain, could see leaves and twigs blocking drains, making flooding more likely, Mr Burkhill said.

The South East is expected to be blustery but stay “quite dry”, with temperatures possibly reaching up to 24C (75F).