Storm Arwen leaves thousands without power as 160kph gusts batter Britain


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

More than 100,000 people suffered power cuts as Storm Arwen lashed the UK with winds of up to 160 kilometres an hour.

Falling trees killed two people – one in Northern Ireland where a tree fell on a car and one in Cumbria, northern England, which hit a pedestrian.

Snow also fell across Scotland and northern England as strong winds battered the region. Amber and yellow warnings remained in place on Saturday across much of the country.

Gusts of 160kph hit Brizlee Wood in Northumberland, the UK's Met Office said. “Many roads remain closed so please only travel if absolutely necessary,” it said on Twitter.

About 55,000 customers lost power across Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear, all in northern England. Another 80,000 also suffered power cuts caused by the storm.

“We've seen some pretty severe gusts overnight,” said Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna.

“Elsewhere, exposed sites in Scotland and Northern Ireland also surpassed 90mph, with 70-80mph seen more widely in the north of the UK, though parts of southern England and Wales also felt the effects of the storm.

“This has been coupled with a few inches of snow which has fallen in some areas.

  • Waves crash against Roker Lighthouse in Sunderland, northern England during Storm Arwen. The storm's 160kph gusts battered parts of the UK at the weekend. Photo: PA
    Waves crash against Roker Lighthouse in Sunderland, northern England during Storm Arwen. The storm's 160kph gusts battered parts of the UK at the weekend. Photo: PA
  • A fallen tree in Crook, Cumbria, which was brought down by Storm Arwen. Photo: PA
    A fallen tree in Crook, Cumbria, which was brought down by Storm Arwen. Photo: PA
  • Fallen garden trees in Wallasey Village, Wirral, England. Photo: PA
    Fallen garden trees in Wallasey Village, Wirral, England. Photo: PA
  • Storm Arwen brought down this tree in Willaston, Cheshire. Photo: PA
    Storm Arwen brought down this tree in Willaston, Cheshire. Photo: PA
  • Falling masonry damaged this car in Sunderland, northern England. Photo: PA
    Falling masonry damaged this car in Sunderland, northern England. Photo: PA
  • A fallen tree blocks a road in the centre of Norton village, County Durham after Storm Arwen's gusts of almost 160kph battered some areas of the UK. Photo: PA
    A fallen tree blocks a road in the centre of Norton village, County Durham after Storm Arwen's gusts of almost 160kph battered some areas of the UK. Photo: PA
  • A homeowner, who lost the roof of his house in strong winds, takes a picture of his property in Blackhall, County Durham. Photo: PA
    A homeowner, who lost the roof of his house in strong winds, takes a picture of his property in Blackhall, County Durham. Photo: PA
  • A lorry blown over by high winds blocks a road near Hartlepool, County Durham. Photo: PA
    A lorry blown over by high winds blocks a road near Hartlepool, County Durham. Photo: PA
  • Motorists drive through a heavy snow shower as it passes over Saltburn by the Sea in North Yorkshire. Photo: Getty
    Motorists drive through a heavy snow shower as it passes over Saltburn by the Sea in North Yorkshire. Photo: Getty
  • A woman walks her dogs in a heavy snow shower over Saltburn by the Sea, North Yorkshire as Storm Arwen sweeps across parts of the UK. Photo: Getty
    A woman walks her dogs in a heavy snow shower over Saltburn by the Sea, North Yorkshire as Storm Arwen sweeps across parts of the UK. Photo: Getty

“In the higher ground areas of Scotland we expected to see up to 15cm falling but the strong winds meant the snow blew around and created a blizzard in some parts.”

People were advised to be wary of travelling on Saturday, as train networks across the UK reported disruption.

ScotRail services were disrupted between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street, Dunblane and Stirling after a barn was blown on to the line close to Polmont, near Falkirk.

TransPennine Express customers were urged not to travel, with services between Newcastle and Edinburgh cancelled.

South Western Railway expected disruption on Saturday morning owing to “multiple trees and obstructions blocking the railway”, while London North Eastern Railway warned customers not to travel north of York because of “significant damage".

Homes across all parts of the UK were damaged by the storm.

Dorset Council, on England's southern coast, reported that trees and power cables had fallen on roads in the area. Road closures were reported more widely in the worst-affected parts of northern England and Scotland.

“There has been plenty of disruption caused by these severe gales, stretching down from south-west England and as far as northern parts of Scotland,” Mr Petagna said.

“But I have to say we've seen the worst of the weather and things will start to fizzle out over Saturday, though people will still see snow and fairly strong gales.”

The Met Office warned that north-east and north-west England, the West Midlands and the East Midlands will experience cold weather until Monday.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
While you're here
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECVT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E119bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E145Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C89%2C900%20(%2424%2C230)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

PRISCILLA
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Sofia%20Coppola%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Cailee%20Spaeny%2C%20Jacob%20Elordi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS

6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).

7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m

Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.

7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.

8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Command%20Z
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Soderbergh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMichael%20Cera%2C%20Liev%20Schreiber%2C%20Chloe%20Radcliffe%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A03%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
%3Cp%3EAl%20Khayma%0D%3Cbr%3EBait%20Maryam%0D%3Cbr%3EBrasserie%20Boulud%0D%3Cbr%3EFi'lia%0D%3Cbr%3Efolly%0D%3Cbr%3EGoldfish%0D%3Cbr%3EIbn%20AlBahr%0D%3Cbr%3EIndya%20by%20Vineet%0D%3Cbr%3EKinoya%0D%3Cbr%3ENinive%0D%3Cbr%3EOrfali%20Bros%0D%3Cbr%3EReif%20Japanese%20Kushiyaki%0D%3Cbr%3EShabestan%0D%3Cbr%3ETeible%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

WWE Super ShowDown results

Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title

Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship

Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns

Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party

Randy Orton beats Triple H

Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley

Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal

The Undertaker beat Goldberg

 

Updated: November 27, 2021, 2:30 PM