FLIGHTS HALTED AS STORM HITS

THOUSANDS of passengers have been hit by delays after about 140 flights were cancelled as Storm Kathleen swept in – but parts of the UK saw the hottest temperatures of the year so far.

More than 140 flights departing and arriving at UK airports yesterday were cancelled as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind.

But the hottest temperature of the year so far has also been provisionally recorded, with a reading of 20.9C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, according to the Met Office.

Strong winds also swept in, with 73mph recorded in Drumalbin, Lanarkshire, the forecaster said.

Major travel disruption has followed, with flights cancelled at airports including Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Belfast City. The majority of flights affected were those within the UK, and to and from Ireland.

The weather warning covered

Wales, the north-west and southwest of England and parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland until 10pm last night.

Storm Kathleen, named by the Irish meteorological service Met Eireann, is the 11th named storm in eight months. It is only the second time in a UK storm season that the letter K has been reached in the alphabet.

The Met Office’s shipping forecast had 30 gale warnings in place yesterday afternoon for sea areas including Viking, Plymouth, Biscay, Sole and Lundy.

National Resources Wales issued six flood alerts including for the Pembrokeshire coast, the Lleyn Peninsula and Cardigan Bay coastline. There were also alerts in place for the Upper and Lower Towy and the rivers Bran and Gwydderig in Carmarthenshire, and the rivers Wye and Monnow in Monmouthshire.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “This intense period of stormy weather is going to prove extremely challenging for anyone driving on the western side of the UK.

“We strongly urge drivers to avoid exposed coasts and higher routes where the impact of the very strong winds is most likely to be felt.”