News / Weather
Storm Darragh causes delays, cancellations and disruption
Fallen trees, cancelled trains and postponed sports fixture were all seen on Saturday morning as a result of Storm Darragh.
A red weather warning was in place for parts of Bristol and the South West from 3am to 11am on Saturday.
On Friday evening the government issued an emergency alert to mobile phones across Bristol warning of “extremely strong winds” which could cause “flying debris, falling trees and large waves”.
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Red warnings are the highest level of warning for wind.
The Met Office warned people in Bristol could expect “roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights”.
St Nick’s Market was also closed as a result of the storm. It is expected to open as normal on Sunday.
Multiple events were cancelled as well.
Bristol Rovers versus Bolton Wanderers at the Memorial Ground and Bristol Bears Women versus Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate were both postponed.
The storm also caused significant travel disruptions.
All First Bus services were suspended until 8.30am on Saturday.
Cross Country rail services in the South West experienced significant delays and customers were advised not to travel.
Due to damage to a section of the roof at Westbury train station, GWR services between Bristol Temple Meads and Portsmouth and Temple Meads and Weymouth were cancelled.
Trains are continuing to run between Temple Meads and London Paddington, and between Bristol and Cardiff.
The M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions and is expected to remain closed until Sunday and flights arriving and departing from Bristol Airport have experienced significant delays.
Elsewhere, some trees were uprooted as a result of the storm.
A fallen treen blocked Kingsweston Road and another tree blocked Brockley Coombe off the A370.
The storm also toppled a tree in Bristol city centre. The fallen tree was being cleared by workers at 9.30am on Saturday.
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Although the red warning ended at 11am, an amber warning will remain in place until 9pm on Saturday.
Flying debris, falling trees and transport cancellations remain a risk.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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