Thousands remain without power as Storm Katie blasts UK with flooding, gales and snow

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

March 28,2016; 9:50PM,EDT

 

 

Powerful Storm Katie unleashed wind, rain and snow across the United Kingdom from Sunday night into Monday.
"Storm Katie may never have been destined to be a record-breaker, but nonetheless she certainly swept dramatically over southern Britain during the night of Easter Sunday and into the morning on Easter Monday," the Met Office said in their blog.
The hardest-hit areas included Greater London where wind gusts of 60 mph (97 km/h) were reported.
Image showing damage from scaffolding collapse in Woodley. (Twitter Photo/@CassieKing)
Just west of London in Woodley, Berkshire, the strong winds caused scaffolding to collapse from a market rooftop.
The Needles, along the extreme western edge of the Isle of Wright reported the strongest winds from Katie with a peak gust of 105 mph (169 km/h).
Powerful winds in excess of 60 mph (97 km/h) were also reported in Bournemouth, Odiham, Southend and Lydd
Another view of the damage in Woodley. (Twitter Photo/@CassieKing)
The strong winds across Southern England impacted more than 100 flights from London-Gatwick and London-Heathrow airports on Monday, according to the BBC.
Katie also caused more than 80,000 power cuts throughout England with numerous reports of tree damage as thousands remain without power.
Image of a tree uprooted near Winchester. (Twitter Photo/@joshgauton)
Highways England reported the strong winds resulted in closure of the M48 Severn Bridge and the Dartford River Crossing.
Storm Katie also produced heavy rainfall across southern England with widespread rainfall of around 25 mm (1.00 inch). Charlwood and Kenley reported more than 38 mm (1.50 inches) of rain since Sunday.
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This heavy rain also caused flooding which resulted in several road closures, including the M6 northbound between junctions 13 and 14, according to The Guardian.
Other motorists returning home from Easter holiday encountered water on roadways and surface spray making for slow and treacherous travel.
As of Monday afternoon, the Environment Agency had 24 flood warnings in effect with more than 100 flood advisories throughout England and Wales.
The combination of flooding and high winds also delayed and canceled trains throughout southern England, according to National Rail, adding to travel disruption on the Easter Monday bank holiday.
Further delays were expected into the evening.
While Southern England endured downpours and damaging winds, the higher terrain of the Midlands woke up to wintry weather.
Image of a tree damage near Winchester. (Twitter Photo/@joshgauton)
Rain mixed with snow in some of the lower terrain from Stoke-on-Trent to Leeds with accumulating snow reported across the Peak District.
Conditions will continue to improve across the United Kingdom into Monday night as Storm Katie moves through the North Sea and approaches Norway.
Unsettled weather will resume on Tuesday with numerous showers across England and Wales, especially during the afternoon and evening.