Storm Kathleen live updates as 70mph winds cancel flights and close roads
Dozens of flights have been cancelled as Storm Kathleen sweeps the UK, bringing with it gusts of up to 70mph. Around 70 flights departing from and arriving at UK airports before midday today (Saturday, April 6) have been cancelled following a yellow weather warning for wind from the Met Office, reports the PA news agency.
The warning, which is currently in force - from 8am until 10pm - covers the north west and south west of England, as well as parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Another yellow wind warning is in place for north-west Scotland on Sunday, lasting from 9am to 3pm. Meanwhile, on the England and Wales border, one lane has of the M48 Severn Bridge has been closed in both directions due to strong winds. Traffic monitoring service Inrix says the motorway is shut between Junction 2 A466 Wye Valley Link Road (Chepstow) and Junction 1 A403 (Aust), and the matrix sign has been set to 40 mph.
Inrix says: "Down to one lane for safety in case vehicles get blown into adjacent lanes. At J1 and J2, everyone is coming off at the exit slip and back on via the entry slip - this is the normal restriction so the bridge can be closed quickly if cross winds get worse." The Met Office forecasted that Storm Kathleen - which is the 11th named storm of this storm season - will "move towards the UK and Ireland from the southwest bringing unseasonably strong winds to Ireland and western parts of the UK." For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
It added: "Gusts of 50-60 mph are expected quite widely within the warning area, with the possibility of 70 mph gusts in exposed coastal locations, especially in eastern Northern Ireland."
The storm could also bring the hottest day of the year so far.
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