Storm Bram continues to batter the UK and Ireland on Wednesday, leaving thousands without power and causing widespread travel chaos. The second named storm of the season has forced the closure of major roads, cancelled dozens of flights, and disrupted ferry services across Scotland's west coast.
The M74 motorway in South Lanarkshire remains closed southbound between junctions 12 and 13 after multiple lorries were blown over near Abington. Police Scotland confirmed the northbound carriageway has reopened, with vehicle recovery ongoing. «No one was injured and all road users are thanked for their patience,» a police spokesperson said.
Transport networks hit hard
Rail services face significant disruption, with Network Rail Scotland closing routes from Fort William to Mallaig and Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh for safety inspections. ScotRail warned passengers to expect delays on Wednesday as crews check lines for fallen trees and debris.
Dublin Airport cancelled 91 flights on Tuesday, with approximately 10 diverted. CalMac ferry services across Scotland's west coast experienced cancellations and suspensions, with key routes including Ullapool-Stornoway and Uig-Tarbert affected throughout Wednesday.
Power outages and flooding
ESB Networks in Ireland reduced power outages from 54,000 properties at peak to 7,000 by Wednesday morning, predominantly affecting Cork, Tipperary, Wexford, Limerick, and Kildare. In England and Wales, the National Grid reported over 3,000 properties without power, mainly in west Wales, south-west England, and the Midlands.
Flood warnings remain active across the UK, with 30 warnings in England, 11 in Wales, and 20 in Scotland as of Wednesday morning. Heavy rainfall caused riverside streets in York adjacent to the River Ouse to flood.
Severe wind warnings persist
Three yellow weather warnings for wind remain in effect across Scotland until Wednesday evening, covering the Shetland Islands, Central Scotland, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. An amber warning for north-west Scotland lapsed at 3am after forecasting gusts up to 90mph.
The Met Office warned of «very strong winds and disruption» through Wednesday, with peak gusts of 45-55mph widely expected, and up to 65mph along exposed coasts and hills. Keith Leonard, head of Ireland's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, urged drivers to exercise caution: «The conditions associated with orange-level wind warnings can be very dangerous. Potential impacts include the possibility of structural damage, fallen trees and flying debris - presenting a risk to both life and property.»
Winds are forecast to gradually ease across all areas through Wednesday evening.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
