Storm Franklin

Energy minister Greg Hands said the third storm to hit the nation in the past week had hampered efforts to reconnect households after Storm Eunice.

Stretches of the M60 in Greater Manchester and the M6 in Lancashire were closed due to incidents during the storm, including a lorry that hit a bridge and caught fire. South Western Railway said Network Rail had cleared more than 50 trees from its network since Friday, but more heavy rain and strong winds on Sunday night caused “even more trees to block the lines and further damage to stations and infrastructure”. The River Don burst its banks in the Sprotbrough area of Doncaster in South Yorkshire on Sunday night, and police warned people to stay away from dangerous “fast-flowing” water. Streets in the town of Matlock, Derbyshire, have been flooded after the River Derwent burst its banks, with residents posting photos on Twitter and describing the town centre as “a river”. The Environment Agency has issued hundreds of flood warning across the UK, as well as a rare “severe” warning for the River Severn at the Wharfage, Ironbridge, where rising water levels pose a “significant risk to life”. He visited a home in the village of Oldbury, in Kent’s Ightham, where a crew in high-visibility vests was working amid toppled trees and a downed energy line to restore power.

Storm Franklin has been named as the low-pressure system is expected to bring high winds during Sunday night and into Monday morning for much of the UK.

The centre of Storm Franklin will clear into the North Sea on Monday morning, although high winds will continue to be felt for most through Monday, as is reflected in the Yellow Weather Warning. Keep track of current weather warnings on the weather warning page. An extended Yellow Warning for wind which covers much of the rest of the UK, except the northeast, has also been issued for Storm Franklin. Within the yellow warning area, wind gusts will be 65-75mph in coastal areas, and more widely 50-60mph further inland. “Coastal areas of Northern Ireland, especially on that north coast, will get the strongest wind gusts, which could be around 80mph in a few places. With winds still strong and gusty, it’s important drivers don’t take any chances, so we urge them to slow down and leave plenty of space between themselves and the vehicle in front. Northern areas of Northern Ireland are covered by an Amber Wind Warning that will be in force from early Monday morning.

It is the third storm in recent days, after Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice wreaked havoc across parts of the island.

Storm Franklin, coming in the wake of two other major storms, left homes and businesses across the island without power. This latest storm brought coastal flooding and fallen trees to parts of the island once again, with the north and north-west most affected. It is the third storm to pass over the island in recent days, after Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice wreaked havoc.

Further 129 flood warnings in place across England and Wales after third severe storm in a week wreaks havoc.

It said it was unable to operate the machinery needed to unload cases because of the high winds. Great Western Railway urged customers to travel only if absolutely necessary as services were expected to be “significantly disrupted across the network”. Two stretches of motorway in north-west England were closed in the morning after incidents involving lorries, including one that overturned on the M60 in Greater Manchester. Southwestern said more than 50 trees had fallen on to the tracks in the last three days. In Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, the main bridge was closed and shops flooded after the River Wharfe overflowed its banks. The Environment Agency urged people to implement emergency flood defence plans and follow evacuation advice.

Last week marked the first time three named storms have been recorded within seven days since the storm-naming system began in 2015.

Band of cloud and rain, locally heavy at first in the north, clearing to sunshine and scattered showers. These wintry and locally heavy in the north. Wednesday mainly dry south and east; elsewhere, heavy rain followed by wintry showers. A band of heavy, perhaps squally rain reaching the northwest later. Thursday cold with blustery sleet/snow showers, sunny spells between. Showers or longer spells of rain and hill snow dying away through this morning becoming largely dry this afternoon with sunny spells.

A yellow weather warning for wind remains in place across Bassetlaw today as Storm Franklin continues to batter the UK.

Route director for Network Rail, Matt Rice said: “As we have seen across much of the network this week, severe weather brings severe challenges for the railway. Storm Franklin: Yellow weather warning remains for Worksop and Retford as rail passengers warned to expect disruption A yellow weather warning for wind remains in place across Bassetlaw today as Storm Franklin continues to batter the UK.