CHAOS AS MONSTER STORM LASHES UK
95MPH weather-bomb nightmare
A MONSTER storm with freezing 95mph winds left Britain battered as snow, sleet and hail caused chaos.
Now experts warn of more bad weather ahead.
STORM Fionn’s 95mph gales left a trail of destruction across Britain last night and there is more chaos ahead.
Thousands of homes were blacked out as trees hit power lines and high winds disabled transport networks.
Snow and black ice brought motorways to a standstill.
But forecasters warned more snow could hit the West today with flooding, rain, hail and sleet.
The Met Office said tomorrow could be a “pleasant” day, before another front from the South West moves in.
Britain yesterday woke up to widespread damage caused by winds of up to 93mph in Wales and 83mph in Norwich.
The Dartford river crossing was closed, causing traffic chaos on major roads including the M25, A2 and A13.
Elsewhere the roof of a three-storey house in Coventry was blown off but noone was injured.
Mowa Errabou, 21, who was inside the property, said: “We heard strong winds throughout the night but we didn’t think it would go this far.”
Many trees were felled, with residents across the South East – including radio host Danny Baker, whose daughter’s car was crushed – posting pictures online.
National Rail reported widespread delays as all of Southern Rail services into London were affected by the high winds.
A total of 30,000 homes were without power and the strong gusts downed power lines.
Last night forecasters said the battering was caused by the remnants of Storm Fionn, with the severe gales triggered by the low pressure it left in its wake.
Prevented
The Met Office refused to name yesterday’s weather bomb, which had last night moved across north and western Europe.
Experts said it fell below the criteria for a named storm. However, it left at least five people dead on the continent, including a 62-year-old hit by a tree in the Netherlands and a woman driver killed when a tree fell on her car in Belgium.
Flights between London City Airport and Amsterdam and Frankfurt were cancelled as the high winds prevented planes from landing.
Forecaster Oli Claydon said things will improve by tomorrow with many experiencing “pleasant conditions” but there could be snow in the north.
The next named storm to hit the UK will be called Storm Georgina but the Met Office said there was no sign of that over the next few days.