Full alert as Britain, Ireland brace for storm Ciara’s wrath

PARIS: Britain and Ireland hunkered down yesterday for a powerful storm expected to disrupt air, rail and sea links, cancel sports events, cut electrical power and damage property.

With howling winds and driving rain, forecasters said Ciara would also hit France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.

“Storm Ciara is expected to bring delays and cancellations to air, ferry and train services; damage to buildings and a good chance of power cuts,“Britain’s Met Office said.

Britain’s Network Rail yesterday advised travellers to avoid taking the train unless “absolutely necessary”.

Several rail firms also decided to reduce the frequency and speed of trains.

In London, organisers cancelled a 10km race in which 25,000 runners were due to take part, while major parks were set to close.

Ireland’s Met Eireann meteorological service warned storm Ciara will produce very strong southwest winds with mean speeds of 65 to 80km per hour and gusts up to 130km/h.

It warned of “a significant risk of coastal flooding especially along western and northwestern coasts”.

In the western Irish city of Galway, the finale for launching the European capital of culture 2020 was cancelled on Saturday evening.

The north and northwest of France will be hit by winds of up to 80km per hour from yesterday morning, forecaster Marion Pirat told AFP.

Affected regions will include Normandy, the Ardennes and Lorraine. In the Vosges, winds could hit speeds of 140km/h.

In the Champagne region and Brittany, gusts could reach 110km/h, according to forecaster Meteo France.

In Belgium, the Royal Meteorological Institute issued an alert yesterday of winds reaching 130km/h, or more, with the risk of property damage nationwide.