Homes face 48 hours without power after Storm Otto hits UK
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Homes could be left without power into the weekend after Storm Otto swept across northern parts of the UK.
Gusts of 75-80mph were recorded across parts of northern Scotland on Friday, while trains and flights were cancelled and roads blocked by overturned lorries in northern England.
More than 40,000 properties were left without power in Scotland, with around 16,000 still cut off as of 4.30pm on Friday.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution said it expected its teams to continue to make significant progress in restoring power to customers into Friday evening, but warned some customers in rural areas may be off supply for more than 48 hours.
In England, Northern Powergrid said around 21,000 customers lost power, with 1,700 still affected as of 5pm. All were expected to have power restored by 11pm.
North Yorkshire Police said it had received “numerous calls” involving high-sided vehicles being blown over on the A1(M) and other routes, and urged motorists to “slow down”.
Leeds Bradford Airport remained open, but a spokesperson said the weather had caused disruption to flight schedules.
Two lorries were reported to have blown over on the A1(M) in North Yorkshire, causing traffic problems – while the road was closed between junctions 60 and 59 in County Durham after two vehicles overturned, National Highways said.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) said a number of services had been cancelled, and train firm Northern said a tree was blocking the line between Harrogate and Knaresborough, affecting a range of services.
The company also said: “Due to an object being caught on the overhead electric wires at Wakefield Westgate, all lines are blocked. Train services running through this station will be cancelled, delayed by up to 25 minutes or diverted.”
A man was taken to hospital in a serious condition after a tree fell on a street in Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Police said it was called to Endcliffe Vale Road at 8.50am on Friday.
A spokesperson said: “A man in his 50s was injured and was taken to hospital in serious condition. A property nearby was also damaged and structural engineers are at the scene.”
A tree toppled onto a Porsche on Granby Road in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, causing anxiety for drivers in the area.
Charlie Lowe, a 29-year-old cake business owner, photographed the crushed Porsche on her way to work, telling the PA news agency: “I felt shocked and I think it’s nerve-wracking.
“I felt a bit nervous driving around Harrogate as a result.”
The storm, the first to be named this winter, was labelled Otto by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).
It is the first named storm to directly impact the UK this storm-naming season, which began in September.
The first storm named by the Met Office, or the Irish and Dutch weather services, this season will still be Storm Antoni, in accordance with the 2022/23 storm name list.
Source: independent.co.uk