UK weather: Storm Aileen batters Britain as 75mph winds leave thousands without power
Thousands of homes were left without power and travel was disrupted as Storm Aileen hit Britain.
The first named storm of the year brought heavy rain and high winds overnight, with commuters warned to take care following the severe weather during the Wednesday morning rush-hour.
Many parts of England and Wales, where weather warnings had been issued, saw gusts of between 55 to 65 mph, the Met Office said.
Peak winds of 83mph were recorded at The Needles on the Isle of Wight, while Mumbles in Wales recorded a top speed of 74mph.
Northern Powergrid - which covers the North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire - said 7,400 homes had lost power overnight, while it is still working to restore power to 800 customers.
Electricity North West said 1,067 homes had been affected and 256 houses in Buxton, Macclesfield and Leigh are still without power.
Heavy rain fell across the country overnight, with Bainbridge in North Yorkshire seeing 35.4mm and Walney Island in Cumbria recording 27.8mm.
Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples said: "That's quite a high total, especially in September.
"The wind speeds as well - it's probably a bit unusual to get that sort of strength of winds at this time of the year. You'd normally expect that in October or November."
She said Storm Aileen had caused "widespread" problems, including surface water flooding, bringing trees and branches down, and causing "minor" damage to some homes.
The M48 Severn Crossing in south Gloucestershire and the Ouse Bridge on the M62 in East Yorkshire were closed due to high winds but have since been reopened.
Network Rail said some railway lines in the south of England and Midlands may still face disruption due to "fallen trees and large branches" on the tracks.
Motorists were also facing road closures up and down the country due to fallen trees.
Police forces in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Gloucestershire all reported trees being blown over by the winds overnight.
There was also reported disruption on the trains during the morning rush-hour.
Speed restrictions were put in place on some lines, including those travelling between Eastleigh and Weymouth and between Petersfield and Portsmouth, as well as between Welwyn Garden City and Arlesey.
A Network Rail spokesman said: "Heavy rain and very strong winds have been forecast to affect parts of England, Wales and Scotland.
"Railway lines in areas affected by the worst weather may suffer disruption caused by falling trees and large branches, power cuts and debris being blown onto the track."
#StormAileen#henley#millmeadows@henleyheraldpic.twitter.com/D72EoZUWOu
— Peter Hopkins (@PAWHop) September 13, 2017
Meanwhile, power companies reported power cuts overnight, affecting huge swathes of the country.
The Met Office amber weather warning for wind was in place until 10am on Wednesday.
Chief forecaster Frank Saunders said: "The low pressure system that is bringing these strong winds will move fairly swiftly from west to east over the UK and although there will be some disruption through Wednesday morning, the winds will ease by the afternoon leaving a day of blustery showers."
#StormAileen has tracked across the UK overnight bringing very strong winds �� and heavy rain ��️, with 36.4 mm recorded at Bainbridge pic.twitter.com/VMncNtMPOg
— Met Office (@metoffice) September 13, 2017
The Met Office said there was no connection between the high winds the UK is expected to see and the severe weather battering the Caribbean and the US.
The UK's weather system originated north in the Atlantic, independent of the current hurricanes across the ocean.
As Storm Aileen clears out eastwards into the North Sea, the UK will be left with cool, showery conditions by the end of the week and into the weekend, the forecasters said.
Rod Dennis, spokesman for motoring organisation the RAC, said: "Aileen's impact is likely to be short but sharp in the north of England, and felt most by those driving into the morning rush hour.
"High-sided vehicles will need to take particular care, but anyone driving can expect to experience some very strong gusts and heavy rain which will make driving conditions difficult.
"Plan ahead and if you can delay your journey until conditions are expected to improve later on Wednesday, then do so."
How do storms get given their names?
In north-east Scotland, police urged motorists to give themselves plenty of time for their journey and to be wary of standing water and localised flash flooding overnight.
The A98 Fochabers to Buckie road, Mosstodloch to Kingston road and near Garmouth golf club were the areas affected.
There were also reports of flooding in Jedburgh in the Borders.
Sleepless nights in wake of Storm Aileen
Some people took to social media overnight to complain that the strong winds were leading to sleepless nights.
Storm Aileen has woken me up & sent next door's green wheelie bin hurtling towards my car. Also keeps setting off neighbours security light
— Simon ⚡️Crowby (@iCrowby) September 13, 2017
Not that much sleep last night #StormAileen but with recent global weather disasters I feel lucky ��
— Rachael Raphaella (@Raphaella24) September 13, 2017
#StormAileen scared my dog, Jack, so much he crawled into bed with me in the early hours. At least one of us got a good sleep�� #dogsarelove
— Catherine M Goddard (@CMGoddard90) September 13, 2017
Time to do a days work on very little sleep, thanks #StormAileen ��
— Faye (@FuneralSong) September 13, 2017
Devastation among the dahlias: Social media users see the funny side of storm
Devastation among the dahlias #StormAileenpic.twitter.com/Sn5T0tETlv
— Tom Bristow (@TomSBristow) September 13, 2017
Absolutely devastating in the #EastMidlands last night. #StormAileen@gem106fmpic.twitter.com/iysKNgO9oY
— Matty P (@WeAllLoveForest) September 13, 2017
#StormAileen in full pic.twitter.com/qhHE2xYa6x
— MATT (@M44Tweet) September 13, 2017
Devestation the bins can't take anymore please help them in anyway you can thanks #StormAileenpic.twitter.com/2AE5L5vXCU
— Danny smith (@doglab) September 13, 2017
We will regroup and rebuild#StormAileen#prayforcheltenhampic.twitter.com/rwkkWFdeMI
— Anna (@ATshowgirl) September 13, 2017
#StormAileen left a path of #destruction through #Brentwood last night. My view this morning :( #sadpic.twitter.com/aKYvqQvk9w
— Peter Scott (@chasethestorm) September 13, 2017
Utter utter devastation from #StormAileen here in Norwich. Recovery operation underway pic.twitter.com/alhnfZQZJC
— Liam (@Gr33n0L) September 13, 2017
Clearing up in the aftermath of #StormAileenpic.twitter.com/gkpktuTElD
— Dan Harvey (@HarveytheHornet) September 13, 2017
We shall rebuild #StormAileenpic.twitter.com/1TjkfuDC79
— Laura (@LadybellBell) September 13, 2017
#StormAileen causing havoc in the garden this morning pic.twitter.com/e1Pt9GUNBt
— Alex Ballinger (@ambhack) September 13, 2017
Total devastation outside today! #StormAileen has ripped through the UK, people can barely absorb the extend of the devastation! pic.twitter.com/cH4bYayf9p
— ��Paul�� (@PaulCH73) September 13, 2017