March 11, 2008
By Sam Greenhill and Julie Moult
UK Daily Mail
Britain was bracing itself for a second day of storms today as forecasters warned almost the entire country would be battered by gale-force winds tonight and into tomorrow.
Photo: A huge wave lashes the seafront in Porthcawl, Wales, as the storm takes hold
Stephen Davenport, a senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: "There will be more high winds, this time across Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, northern England and North Wales, with gusts of more than 70mph expected.
"There will also be gales then in the south and south west."
Renewed warnings of dangerous weather came as it emerged the storm indirectly claimed its first victim before it even struck British shores.
Brian Iley, 41, was killed on Sunday after plunging 30ft from the roof of his home as he was fixing a tile to ensure his house was protected against the high winds.
The successful businessman, from Blackhall in County Durham, was found on the ground outside with serious head injuries and was rushed to hospital but died before he arrived.
Photo: Crashing waves breached defences to flood the park and 30 people had to be rescued
Miraculously no one else died during the torrid conditions yesterday, which caused widespread travel chaos and more than 10,000 families plunged into darkness after trees crashed through power lines in 95mph gales.
Motorists recounted their lucky escapes avoiding trees that crashed to the road, while others were plucked to safety from rising waters.
Lightning struck two homes in Dorset, and in London a woman was taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious by an advertising hoarding blown down as she waited for a train.
Homes in Wales, Cornwall and Devon were deluged and emergency services were at full stretch for the "perfect storm" - a combination of gale force winds and the high spring tide.
From Cornwall to Kent, spectacular waves came perilously close to breaching sea walls in coastal towns.
Photo: Eye of the storm: A satellite image taken at lunchtime shows the storm looming over Britain
The AA reported its busiest day of the year, responding to 16,000 stricken motorists, and the RAC advised drivers to stay on the alert for hazardous conditions over the next few days.
British Airways had to cancel dozens of short-haul flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and regional airports in the south were also hit.
Most English Channel ferry crossings were cancelled, and dozens of roads were flooded or closed, including the M25.
Photo: Storms and high seas batter the Cornish village of Porthlevan as 'Johanna' hits Britain
Power companies said 7,500 properties in an area stretching from Bristol to Cornwall had been cut off and 3,000 more in South Wales.
The worst of the weather hit the far south-west coast in the early hours of yesterday.
Winds reached 82mph at Berry Head in Brixham, Devon, between 3am and 5am and peaked at 95mph at The Needles on the Isle of Wight at 1pm.
Despite structural damage, organisers of the Cheltenham Festival said the racecourse was undamaged and promised events would begin today as planned.
Photo: Rescue: A woman became trapped by a falling tree in Cleveland
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| Photo: Rescue: A woman became trapped by a falling tree in Cleveland |
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| Photo: A wave surges up on the coast of Newquay just as a car attempts to drive past |
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| Photo: The mighty fallen: This 50ft tree was uprooted by winds of up to 80mph lashing the Sussex coast |
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| Photo: A lorry is marooned in the village of Looe, in Cornwall, which was hit by flooding |
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| Photo: The high winds flattened hospitality tents at Cheltenham Racecourse |
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| Photo: A tree lies across the A26 after heavy storms at Little Horsted in Sussex |
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| Photo: Commuters crossing London Bridge struggle to hold their umbrellas in the driving rain |
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| Photo: High and dry: Dutch ship Artemis ran aground at les Sables d'Olonne in Britanny by the storm winds |
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