Storm Arwen LIVE: Weather updates as Met Office warn 'danger to life' and man killed

More than 120 lorries are stuck in heavy snow on a treacherous stretch of motorway which has since been shut by police.

North Way Motorway Police said the M62 was closed and it urged drivers to stay away from the area.

The force tweeted: "Heavy snow falling on M62 between junction 21 and 22, HGV's unable to move."

Click here to read more.

More than 80,000 homes are currently without power as Storm Arwen continues to wreak havoc.

Power supplier Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it "has moved to red alert status for its north of Scotland area following the impact of Storm Arwen, which continues to bring widespread disruption".

Click here to read more.

The Met Office's red warning has expired but Storm Arwen is still a threat to life.

The forecaster tweeted: "The red warning has now expired, but amber and yellow #warnings for wind remain in place as #StormArwen continues to bring some very strong gusts to many areas.

"Many roads remain closed so please only travel if absolutely necessary."

The red warning has now expired, but amber and yellow #warnings for wind remain in place as #StormArwen continues to bring some very strong gusts to many areas

Many roads remain closed so please only travel if absolutely necessary

Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/5DFIbEjTKV

— Met Office (@metoffice) November 27, 2021

A driver is "lucky" to be alive after a tree fell and cushed a car, say police.

This photo was shared by PSNI Derry City and Strabane.

The force wrote: "This driver was lucky to walk away with only minor injuries after the wind blew down this tree onto his car as he was driving along the Letterkenny Road."

This driver was lucky to walk away with only minor injuries after the wind blew down this tree onto his car as he was driving along the Letterkenny Road. One side of the road is still closed as multiple agencies clear the car, tree and debris

Take care tonight #KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/KyQzkS3HdR

— Police Derry City and Strabane (@PSNIDCSDistrict) November 26, 2021

Drivers have abandoned their cars trying to cross through one of the UK's most notorious routes.

Snow, fleet and strong winds forced motorists to ditch their cars as they tried to navigate Snake Pass, said Derbyshire Police.

A Derbyshire Police spokesman said: "Motorists are being advised to avoid using the Snake Pass and the Woodhead Pass due to sleet, snow and high winds.

"Some drivers have reported becoming stuck or having to abandon their vehicles. As a result, we are now advising motorists to avoid those routes if possible."

Part of the M62 is closed after an HGV overturned.

The eastbound carriageway is shut between junctions 7 and 8.

North West Motorway Police have asked people to avoid the area.

M62 Eastbound between junction 7 and 8 currently closed due to overturned HGV, Police, Fire and Amb on scene, please avoid the area

— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) November 27, 2021

Despite this late hour, we're still seeing quite a few reports of crashes on snow or ice-covered roads across the UK.

Warrington Police shared this image of a car that slammed into a fallen tree.

The force wrote: "Please be careful when travelling tonight. There is a weather warning in place due to strong winds.

"We have had plenty of fallen trees so slow down and take extra care. The driver from this was lucky and didn't have a scratch!

"Only make essential journeys to minimise risk."

In many places, drivers have been told to stay at home because the roads are so treacherous.

Please be careful when travelling tonight. There is a weather warning in place due to strong winds. We have had plenty of fallen trees so slow down and take extra care. The driver from this was lucky and didn't have a scratch! Only make essential journeys to minimise risk. pic.twitter.com/q63TyrUGsz

— Warrington Police (@PoliceWarr) November 27, 2021

Drivers in and around Aberdeenshire have been urged not to travel in the morning.

They should stay at home until the roads are declared safe, say local officials.

Heavy snow and fierce winds have been causing travel chaos across the UK.

Tonights weather has affected our road service, and will have a significant impact on our winter treatment tomorrow morning. Therefore we must reiterate Police Scotlands recommendation not to travel in, and around Aberdeenshire until the roads have been treated. @aberdeenshire pic.twitter.com/KBUIyIS6ds

— Aberdeenshire Roads (@AbshireRoads) November 26, 2021

Storm Arwen is set to bring gusts of up to 90mph before the red warning is lifted at 2am on Saturday.

But where are the strongest winds so far?

According to BBC figures, they're all in Scotland, with Inverbervie seeing 78mph this evening.

This was followed by Lossiemouth and Boulmer, both at 74mph, Charterhall and Kirkwall at 71, and Aberdeen at 68.

Snow has already started to fall across southern England, including Devon.

Residents in Dartmoor, Plymouth and Efford all reported snowfall earlier this evening

WXCHARTS has more signs of snow appearing in the early hours of Saturday, around 3am.

"We might see some snow in more southern parts of the UK, but it won't be the whole of the country. Many areas won't quite be cold enough", the Met Office's Tom Morgan.

The red weather warning will lapse in a few hours time at 2am, leaving two broader amber weather warnings stretching across eastern Scotland and north-east England.

And a second zone of strong winds for Wales and the South West.

Even after the severe red warning is lifted, wind gusts for these areas will be running at 60-70mph into mid-morning.

Growing winds thanks to Storm Arwen have picked up a farmer's barn and flung it onto a railway line, causing delays.

ScotRail tweeted that services on the busy lines between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen St, Dunblane and Stirling were disrupted by the incident.

And Network Rail Scotland urged those who live near the railway to ensure trampolines, gazebos or other garden furniture are "tied down".

"If they blow on to the tracks, they can pose a major hazard to trains, staff and passengers," said, along with a photo of a rogue trampoline wedged next to a train.

#StormArwen Our services between Edinburgh & Glasgow Queen St, Dunblane & Stirling are all being disrupted now.

This is due to a barn that's been blown on to the line near Polmont. pic.twitter.com/7Xyx5G9tUg

— ScotRail (@ScotRail) November 26, 2021

Please help us to keep Scotland's Railway safe during #StormArwen. If you live near the railway, please make sure any trampolines, gazebos or other garden furniture are tied down - if they blow on to the tracks, they can pose a major hazard to trains, staff and passengers. pic.twitter.com/eGwFbo4wPu

— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) November 26, 2021

Around 25,000 homes in Scotland are currently without power due to Storm Arwen.

Coastal areas of Angus, Fife, Aberdeenshire, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders, along with Aberdeen and Dundee, are all covered by the Met Office's red weather alert.

Merseyrail is reporting 'major' disruption to the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines.

A spokesperson said: "Alterations to services at Aughton Park due to a fallen tree blocking the tracks at Aughton Park the Ormskirk line is disrupted.

"Alterations to services between Rice Lane and Kirkby Due to a fallen tree blocking the tracks between Rice Lane and Kirkby."

There are also issues on the Southport and Hunts Cross lines due to an obstruction on the track between Birkdale and Ainsdale.

A limited Rail Replacement bus service is now operating on this line between Rice Lane and Kirkby.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is advising people to remain indoors as the wind picks up.

They have been called to a number of incidents including fallen trees and roofs being blown away.

Bargain-hunters up and down the UK were undeterred by the incoming storm to hit the Black Friday sales.

As rain lashed down in the likes of Bromley High Street in South East London, shoppers were happy to brave the wet and increasingly windy weather.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "The decision by the Met Office to issue a rare red weather warning for strong winds signals a potentially damaging and dangerous risk to life in some areas of Scotland.

"People in these affected areas should not travel under any circumstances, including motorists.

"Yellow and amber weather warnings also remain in place for a number of areas and people should continue to exercise extreme caution and plan any necessary journeys in advance as there is disruption to transport services.

"The Scottish Government is in close contact with local authorities and the emergency services to ensure people in the affected areas receive the latest information, advice and support where needed."

All of the gazebos put up in Albert Square in Dundee have blown over and collapsed.

Photos shared on Twitter show the impact Storm Arwen has had in the Scottish city centre.

The scene in #Dundee City Centre. All the gazebos in Albert Square have blown over and collapsed as a result of #StormArwen. Hope you're all safe! Very bad out there!

Ryan Rice pic.twitter.com/nOuKAmWGnk

— Dundee Culture (@DundeeCulture) November 26, 2021

ITV bosses have been forced to cancel I'm A Celebrity's live show for the first time in 19 years as a "precautionary" measure over Storm Arwen.

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have pre-recorded tonight's show as production put measures in place.

The show has confirmed that all the celebrities will remain inside the castle, which they have confirmed is secure.

Click here for the full story

London North Eastern Railway has issued a "do not travel" alert to customers as its services will be "significantly disrupted due to severe weather" until Sunday.

The firm runs trains on the East Coast Main Line between London and Scotland, calling at stations including Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Network Rail will close the East Coast route north of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, from 5pm on Friday.

A Covid-19 pop-up vaccination clinic which was due to open in Middlesbrough on Sunday during a Christmas parade and lights switch-on event has been cancelled due to the weather forecast.

Middlesbrough Council said the cancellation of the walk-in clinic in Centre Square was for health and safety reasons.

Temperatures are due to plummet to freezing overnight in parts of the UK - with a chilly weekend ahead.

Met Office weather charts show the coldest part of the UK in the early hours of tomorrow will Loch Rannoch in Scotland.

But the rest of Britain is not much better - and Saturday daytime will remain in the single digits.

BBC forecaster Sara Keith-Lucas said: "Wherever you are, it's not going to feel warm - top temperatures only about 4 to 9 degrees and when you add on the wind chill it really is going to feel subzero."

Storm Arwen could cause waves to reach an "exceptional" 10 metres high on the north-east, according to the Environment Agency.

John Curtin, the body's executive director of local operations, said the coast "could still be a dangerous place" despite low tides.

In a tweet, he said: "Storm Arwen will drive massive waves on the NE coast - possibly up to an exceptional 10m. Tides are low but the coast could still be a dangerous place - see real time wave measurements here."

HEADS UP : #StormArwen will drive massive waves on the NE coast - possibly up to an exceptional 10m. Tides are low but the coast could still be a dangerous place - see real time wave measurements here https://t.co/m7wJLrua0l pic.twitter.com/tKiFnhAWcK

— John Curtin (@johncurtinEA) November 26, 2021

The UK saw its first snow of the winter yesterday as the unsettled weather moves in and temperatures drop.

A yellow weather for snow is also in place which is likely to affect Durham and Northumberland.

This warning is in place from 5pm on Friday to 10am on Saturday morning.

A statement on the Met Office website says: "Spells of hill snow may bring some disruption to travel Friday night and into Saturday."

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert, with the UK's temperatures set to plummet in the coming days.

Will Land, head of civil contingencies at the forecaster, said: "The UK will see temperatures drop to below average in the coming days, as cold air is drawn in from the north.

"This is coupled with the strong winds associated with Storm Arwen, which means it will feel especially cold in the wind."

He added that parts of the north will see temperatures below freezing overnight and daytime maximum readings of low single figures.

The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning ahead of Storm Arwen coming to the UK - here is a full list of places set to get battered.

People in the affected areas have been warned to avoid travelling if they can. The forecaster has also expanded the area under the amber 'danger to life' warning to include more of north England.

From midnight until 6pm tomorrow all of Great Britain is at risk of strong winds of up to 75mph.

The red weather warning is for coastal parts of Scotland, as well as some of the north east of England.

Click here for the full story.

Motorists in areas which fall under the Met Office's red weather warning have been told they "should not travel under any circumstances" by a senior police officer.

Superintendent Simon Bradshaw, from Police Scotland's Road Policing Unit, said motorists in the area "should not travel under any circumstances".

He added those in amber and yellow warning zones should "not journey out unless for essential purposes and if you are doing so, to be mindful of the challenging conditions you will face".

The red warning stretches along the east coast from Middlesbrough to beyond Aberdeen and is the first maximum alert to be issued since Storm Dennis in February 2020.

Click here for the full story

A man has died after his car was hit by a falling tree in Northern Ireland.

The incident happened on the Dublin Road in Antrim on Friday.

A PSNI spokesman said the road remains closed in both directions and diversions are in place.

Ferry sailings from Belfast and Larne ports have been cancelled on Friday, as has the Ballycastle to Rathlin Island ferry.

Click here for the full story