Dirty Den storms in
Two dead as sting jet cyclone brings torrential rain and gusts of 77mph
Storm Dennis barrelled into Scotland yesterday and wreaked havoc for weekend travellers and football fixtures.
The severe weather that hammered the nation was classified as a “sting jet cyclone” – a rare phenomenon.
Two deaths were reported after a man’s body was found off Margate, Kent, and another was discovered along the coast in Herne Bay. Experts say the storm is one of the biggest for two centuries. It is the second to hit the UK in a week. Parts of the country suffered 65ft waves, half-a-month’s rain in hours and hurricane-force 77mph gusts. The Met Off ice issued a “be prepared” warning in southern Scotland.
Yesterday’s highest wind speed north of the Border was the 77mph recorded on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had 15 flood alerts a nd 11 more serious flood warnings in place. Four were for the south-west, around East Luce Bay, West Luce Bay, Outer Wigtown Bay and Loch Ryan, where it was feared a coastal surge could inundate properties. In
Dumfries, the Whitesands car park remained closed after the banks of the River Nith burst.
Dr ivers a lso exper ienced horrendous road conditions.
A landslide hit the A82 at Three Sisters Park, near Glencoe, in Inverness-shire.
The M8 was closed westbound between Junctions 4A and 5 Shotts, in Lanarkshire, by a burning lorry.
The Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge were closed to double decker buses and the Kessock Bridge, in Inverness- shire, and Skye Bridge were closed to high-sided vehicles.
All 28 Cal Mac ferry routes on the west coast were placed under notice of cancellation or suspension and sailings are likely to be disrupted today and tomorrow.
Rail travel was severely hit in the south after the Kilmarnock to Dumfries line was blocked by a landslide on Monday.
Last night, ScotRail tweeted: “We’re advising customers in the west of Scotland not to travel due to the severe disruption. Unused tickets will be refunded in full at the point of purchase.”
British Airways and easyJet f lights were cancelled from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. EasyJet said it had grounded 234 UK flights.
A BA spokeswoman said: “The majority of our flights are planned to operate as scheduled but like all airlines flying to and from the UK today, we are experiencing some disruption due to the stormy weather.
“We are merging a number of Heathrow short-haul flights and using larger aircraft where possible to minimise disruption.”
Top flight football matches fell victim to Dennis, including Rangers’ game against Livingston at Ibrox and Motherwell’s home tie at Fir Park against St Mirren.
The Army was deployed to help with flood relief in England.The MoD said 75 soldiers from 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, have been sent to Yorkshire.
Forecasters warned winds will top 70mph again today. A yellow warning for Scotland extends into tomorrow.
Simon Partridge of the Met Office said: “Through the course of today, Dennis takes something of a dive towards the UK, so that by this evening, we will start to see the strongest winds across the Western Isles and the west coast of Scotland.
“The winds rattle on through the night and it’s not until 6am or 7am tomorrow that they begin to ease. ”
Road organisation RAC’s Simon Williams said: “Expect delays. Watch out for fallen trees and remember the dangers of floodwater and aquaplaning.”