Storm Henk sweeps UK killing one as floods and 94mph winds ripped across UK

Storm Henk recapped: Tempest causes destruction across UK

Storm Henk battered the UK today - and killed at least one person.

The tempest knocked down trees, one of which crushed a woman, and caused travel chaos on the road and railways. Rivers flooded and families, including those on a large caravan park, were evacuated from their homes. A woman was crushed by a falling tree in Orpington, Kent, at around 3pm, the emergency services said.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from caravans at the holiday park in Northamptonshire, the River Severn has flooded in Worcester and other waterways have become saturated after heavy rainfall. South Western Railway (SWR) is urging people not to travel on its services due to the severe weather. Thameslink has urged passengers not to travel unless absolutely necessary. More than 100,000 power supplies have been reconnected during the course of the day.

How do storm names get chosen?

In the UK, the Met Office chose the current list of storm names by asking the public to send in suggestions. The forecasters report they received thousands of suggestions, and also put in suggestions from their colleagues at Met Éireann and KNMI. They say the names aim to reflect the diversity of Britain, Ireland the Netherlands.

Met Office forecast over next five days

This Evening and Tonight:
Storm Henk bringing wet and windy weather to the southern half of the UK as it moves eastwards, with clear spells and showers moving in behind. Some clear spells further north and strong winds and rain for northeast Scotland.

Wednesday:

Rain across northern and eastern Scotland will ease. Otherwise tomorrow will be a day of sunny spells and blustery showers, heavy with hail and thunder in the south and west.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Whilst scattered heavy showers are still possible to end the week, this period will be drier and less windy than of late. Turning colder with overnight frosts becoming more likely.

Tips to stop windscreen freezing and prevent blades from sticking to window

Police statment after one dies in Storm Henk

In a statement released earlier today, police said: “Road closures are in place after a tree fell on a car on the Tetbury Road near Kemble earlier today, Tuesday 2 January.

“Emergency services were called at around 3.15pm with reports of a large fallen tree on the A433 Tetbury Road near the junction with the A429, between Tetbury and Cirencester. Motorists are advised that the road is expected to remain closed overnight and into tomorrow (Wednesday). No further information is available at this time."

Storm Henk claims first victim

A person has died after a falling tree crushed a car during Storm Henk. They were sadly pronounced dead at the scene

Read more here

London Paddington delays continue after power supply problem

Commuters remain stuck at London Paddington station and allegedly on the Elizabeth Line as several major routes have been brought to a standstill by a power supply problem tonight.

Great Western Railway and Elizabeth Line services between London Paddington and Reading have been forced to close, alongside Elizabeth Line services to London Heathrow.

National Rail said a failure of electricity supply between London Paddington and Maidenhead meant some lines were blocked.

National Rail said a failure of electricity supply between London Paddington and Maidenhead means some lines are blocked (PA)

More than 100,000 power supplies reconnected during the course of the day

More than 100,000 power supplies have been reconnected during the course of the day.

It's estimated around 38,000 homes are without power supply at the time of writing this post.

Ross Easton, a spokesperson for Energy Networks Association, said: "Electricity network technicians have reconnected around 102,600 customers since Storm Henk damaged power lines today.

"Intensive winds, higher than originally forecast, of more than 80mph in places have meant that repairs have been needed to electricity infrastructure and right now engineering teams are working to reconnect supplies as quickly and safely as possible.

"If you come across downed power lines, call 105 to report it for free. If there is an immediate threat to life, dial 999."

Army helicopter falls over amid 'very high winds;

An army helicopter has fallen over amid "very high winds" at an airfield in Hampshire.

A British Army spokesperson said in a statement that staff were dealing with the incident at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop.

The Apache helicopter was "destabilised by very high winds," the spokesperson said.

"Airfield staff responded rapidly to secure the aircraft and specialist recovery is currently being coordinated. We will not comment further until a full assessment has been made," the statement read. No one was seriously hurt.

Park submerged in 'poo and loo roll' as weather causes drains to overflow

Heavy rain caused "raw sewage" to bubble up from a drain leaving a city park submerged in filthy water this afternoon.

The country has faced downpours all day as Storm Henk makes its way across the nation. In Bournville Park, Birmingham, walkers were disgusted to find the beauty spot covered in dirty water in which they spotted toilet rolls and sanitary products floating. What they described as 'raw sewage' was bubbling from a drain flooding paths in the popular park.

For the full story, click here.

Close shave for motorist in southeast London

Dramatic footage shows a car narrowly miss being struck by a falling tree in Bexleyheath, southeast London, today.

Gusts of up to 94mph have battered the country during Storm Henk's rage, and they have knocked down trees everywhere.

In this clip, a driver slows just in time before the tree comes to a thud.

More than 18,000 people without power after Scottish and Southern Electricity Network outage

More than 18,000 people are now thought to have lost power due to damage caused by Storm Henk.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks estimates more than 18,500 customers across 12 regions in UK are affected, with main impact in Oxfordshire.

• Oxfordshire: 4,036
• Wiltshire: 3,167
• Gloucestershire: 2,660
• Hampshire: 2,200
• Buckinghamshire: 2,095

Hero saves child, three, and the driver of car in floodwater

A hero rushed to save a three-year-old child and the driver of a car after the vehicle they were in became submerged under floodwater.

It happened today in Hall Green, Birmingham, police said. They've issued a photo of the car, with a smashed window, after the vehicle came into difficulty.

Storm Henk causes chaos to services leaving London Paddington

There's also travel disruption at London Paddington station.

Commuters are left stranded at Paddington Station tonight after many trains were cancelled due to a power failure from storm Henk.

No trains are displayed on the boards at the train station leaving the first day back to work after the holidays in chaos.

Commuters face disruption and delays at Paddington station (PA)

Woman crushed by fallen tree in Storm Henk as 94mph winds pummel UK

A woman has been crushed by a fallen tree in Kent during Storm Henk amid strong 94mph winds.

She was hit by the object and trapped underneath it on Station Road, Orpington, at around 3pm on Tuesday.

Conditions on roads are treacherous tonight so take care when driving, forecasters warn.

For more details on this breaking story, click this link.

South Western Railway reports 'extreme disruption' across its network

South Western Railway is reporting "extreme disruption" across its network this evening.

A message on the rail operator's website says "multiple incidents" are affecting services.

Passengers are being advised not to travel.

Storm Henk closes Dartford Crossing Bridge

The Dartford Crossing Bridge has been closed because of high winds. National Highways saying two-hour delays on M25.

Traffic is busy along other sections of the motorway due to the weather too.

Storm Henk is slowly moving eastwards.

Nearly 9,000 homes without power during Storm Henk

The Energy Networks Association - which collates data from all energy providers - estimates that 8,900 homes were currently without power as of around 2pm today.

Most homes affected are in the South West of England, it told the Mirror.

It will have an updated figure by around 8pm.

Top wind gusts recorded so far:

• Needles (IoW) - 94mph
• Exeter Airport - 81mph
• Mumbles Head and Isle of Portland - 71mph
• Cardinham - 69mph

What should we expect from Storm Henk for the rest of the week? 

A chief meteorologist at the Met Office outlined how the storm will develop.

Paul Gundersen said: "Our latest analysis of the forecast shows an increase in the likelihood of very strong wind gusts across parts of southern Wales and England, which is why we have issued this amber warning this morning and named Storm Henk.

"Storm Henk will initially bring very strong winds to the South West of England and southern Wales, with gusts of up to 80mph possible.

"As Storm Henk moves north-eastwards across the south of the UK through Tuesday (today), the strongest winds will also move eastwards, across the south Midlands, Home Counties and East Anglia through the afternoon and evening."

The weather is expected to stay unsettled throughout the week across the UK but there are signs it could calm down after the weekend, the Met Office has said.

"As we move through the weekend and into next week there are early signs of higher pressure developing which would settle the weather down and bring a spell of lower temperatures," a statement on the Met Office's website reads.

Storm Henk has caused floods in Manchester city centre (William Lailey SWNS)

Warning not to try to drive through floodwater amid Storm Henk

Firefighters have rescued a driver after it is thought they attempted to drive their car through deep floodwater in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

The service used an inflatable sled to rescue the occupants of the car, given the speed of the flowing water.

The Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service asked residents not to drive through the floodwater.

Have you been affected by Storm Henk?

Have you been affected by Storm Henk? Have you lost power or is your home or neighbourhood flooded?

South Western Railway and Thameslink warn passengers not to travel

South Western Railway (SWR) is urging people not to travel on its services due to the severe weather.

Trees reported on railway line as Storm Henk takes force

High winds are causing problems for the UK's rail network, with a number of reports of fallen trees on the line.

Wadhurst and Farnham stations, in East Sussex and Surrey respectively, as well lines between Eastleigh and Romsey in Hampshire have been affected by fallen trees, while all lines between Huddersfield and Penistone in Yorkshire have ceased due to flooding.

A number of councils across England have noted trees on roads too. Signalling faults and other problems have led to disruption on other rail lines, although it is not known whether this is directly linked to Storm Henk.

It'll be difficult to travel on trains and on the road this evening (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)

Multiple flood warnings across Midlands

A number of flood warnings remain in place across the Midlands, particularly in Nottinghamshire. River levels are forecast to rise and flooding is expected at the Cocker Beck, in Lowdham, Woodborough Book, Woodborough, as well as the River Maun - in Edwinstowe and Ollerton, and further afield at Haughton, Milton and West Drayton.

Additional flood warnings cover the River Erewash, at Ilkeston, the River Meden at Market Warsop, Church Warsop, and Meden Vale and the River Trent at Carlton-on-Trent.

Elsewhere in the Midlands, the River Severn has burst its banks in Worcester.

Swans in Worcester after the river Severn burst its banks (PA)

What to do if Storm Henk damage causes a power cut?

Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association which represents the UK’s electricity network operators, said: "If you come across power lines which have been brought down, keep yourself and others well clear. Call 105 for free to report it or dial 999 if there is an immediate danger to life.

"If you are in an area covered by a weather warning, our advice is to Prepare, Care, Share. Prepare by making a plan. Know what to do if storm damage causes a power cut. Care by checking in on people who might need extra help. And share this information so others know what to do too.

“Network operators are making their own preparations too, which involves contacting thousands of customers registered for the Priority Services Register, increasing staffing in control rooms, depots and customer service centres and standing up cross-industry coordination calls where all of the country’s network operators work together for customers."

A tree is blown over by the wind in Tooting, south London (PA)

Storm Henk chaos as Northampton holiday home flooding sees 1,000 evacuated

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from a caravan park as Storm Henk hits the UK.

The holiday park in Nene Valley, Northampton, was hit by floods on Tuesday as the first named storm of the year swept in, with around 1,000 people evacuated. It comes as the Met Office issued a rare amber warning for a huge patch across the Midlands and the South of England, with winds of up to 80mph projected for some parts.

The Environment Agency meanwhile issued severe flood alerts for the East Midlands. Families at the Northampton park were forced to leave with whatever possessions they could as water seeped into the site earlier in the morning.

For the full story, click this link.

More than 1,000 holidaymakers and residents were evacuated from a holiday park in Northampton (Bav Media)

Seafront venue in Exmouth is closed due to Storm Henk

A seafront venue in Exmouth, Devon, is closed due to Storm Henk. An eyewitness said Ocean's roof 'is coming off'. Pictures from the scene show police and fire engines have blocked the Esplanade.

The witness said: "The roof of the ocean is coming off down Exmouth seafront. Both entrances are blocked by emergency services."

Ocean confirmed the building is closed 'for the safety of our guests to closed the complex for the day.' A post on their Facebook page read: "Due to the the unexpected turn in the weather as a result of Storm Henk, we've decided it's best for the safety of our guests and team to close the complex for the day.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and will be in touch (if we haven't already) if you have a booking for today. Stay safe and warm and we'll keep you updated here on our reopening when the skies clear up!"

And nearby in the same county, a roof of a building has blown off during Storm Henk and ended up on a railway line, closing the tracks for the time being.

A roof ripped off during the weather has blown onto a railway line in Devon

Avoid walking in wooded areas, councils say amid Storm Henk

Authorities across the country are advising people not to talk through wooded areas during Storm Henk as trees are liable to falling due to the wind.

Photographs already show a large tree strewn across a garden in Tooting, south London, following fierce gusts.

Due to the winds, road bridges, including Dartford Bridge on M25, may close. Drivers are urged to check before they travel.

What is Storm Henk?

Brits are being warned Storm Henk will still bring a spell of very strong winds, causing disruption to travel and power supplies with an amber alert in place, says the Met Office.

Storm Henk, which is forecast to bring gusts of up to 80mph to parts of the UK, is in place from 10am today and will run until 8pm. The forecaster has issued the amber weather warning for parts of southern England, the Midlands, East Anglia and Wales during today.

The gusts of up 70 to 80mph are likely on exposed coasts in the west, with gusts of 50 to 60mph expected inland. A low pressure system is coming in from the Atlantic over the coming days which is bringing the unsettled weather with strong winds and rain. By the end of the week it is expected to have moved on with drier conditions that will also see a significant drop in temperatures.

Acaster Malbis near York has experienced flooding (PA)