Winds of more than 80mph are battering parts of the UK, as what forecasters have called an "exceptional" storm sweeps through the British Isles.
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Trees have been uprooted and buildings damaged across the country, with the emergency services bracing themselves after a night of gale-force winds.
The morning commute has been disrupted across the south of Britain, with many trains cancelled and roads blocked. A number of short-haul flights from Heathrow and Gatwick airports have also been cancelled.
More than 4,500 homes in the West Country and South Wales were left without power after falling trees crashed through power lines.
A 11,000-tonne tanker carrying gas oil and 13 crew has run into trouble off the Isle of Wight. A lifeboat is alongside if an evacuation is deemed necessary.
The Swedish vessel, bound for Fawley, Hampshire, has now been anchored and is due to be towed into deeper water.
There have been no reports of major damage, but forecasters warn the extreme weather will continue across southern England throughout the day.
Gusting winds ripped tiles off roofs in Sussex , while houses in Wales had their roofs blown off overnight.
In Solva, St David's, west Wales, the roof of a garage blew off at about 4.40am, damaging the roof of the main house and leading to water entering the property, a spokesman for the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.
At 3am, firefighters were called to Freshwater East, Pembrokeshire, where the tin roof of a shed had become loose, and was secured to an adjoining bungalow, the spokesman added.
The Environment Agency issued severe flood warnings across Devon and Cornwall, and a further six flood warnings and 31 flood watches across the country.
About 170 residents of a caravan park were evacuated by overnight as a precaution ahead of the expected stormy weather.
People have been urged to stay away from coastal areas amid concerns that they could be swept away by gale-force winds.
David Rooke, the Environment Agency's head of flood risk management, said: "The strong winds will combine with spring high tides to significantly elevate the water levels along the coast which is likely to cause some flooding. We understand that people are fascinated by the sea but at times like this we do urge them not to go and watch the high waves - it is extremely dangerous and only takes a few seconds for someone to be knocked off their feet into the water."
The storm developed from a band of exceptionally low pressure that crossed the Atlantic yesterday, combined with higher than average spring tides.
The South will take the heaviest battering during the storm, which is expected to continue into this evening.
The Met Office put severe weather warnings in place across all of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and large parts of Scotland.
Last night, Gordon Brown and government officials held talks to plan a response to the storm threat.
Forecasters have warned people to stay indoors, and drive only if absolutely necessary.
British Airways cancelled several short-haul and domestic flights out of Heathrow last night, and airports have advised travellers to check with airlines before leaving home.
P&O Ferries cancelled its Portsmouth to Bilbao service, while the coastguard advised leisure sailors to avoid the sea until the storm passes.
I'm still waiting ... someone said that there was going to be a storm; and to think that I was sufficiently taken in by the forecast to check the fuel in the emergency generator. Silly me.
Michael Fish is working part time for BBC South East. He has taken to reading the weather with his jacket tightly buttoned up. When he starts whirling around doing his weatherman gestures the restrictive nature of his buttoned up jacket makes it look as though he is trying to escape from from a strait jacket. They didn't get him in during this latest storm which was a shame because he seems to enjoy cracking jokes about his famous forecast.
Jim dont get ur knickers in such a twist, go and find something important to worry about!!! Go and get a life maybe?? xx
Afraid its not a nanny state you ignorant people because in a nanny state you would had to stay indoors etc. You can choose too stay indoors etc under these suggestions that the met office have issued. Go and get blown into the sea etc who cares???
6ft 2 well built male and I were Struggling to stay upright against pretty rough wind down here in sussex this afternoon, and that was around 2ish, it's built up since then and the rain's lashing down. Local hotel on the seafront has the sea lapping at it's patio/decking and seaweed by the door. Trees down and bits of trees floating around. Braved the seafront at 1oclock - not to be repeated! I've walked a gale 9 along there, and this was worse.
Are you sure Michael Fish has retired from the BBC? I,m here in the North West of England with all my hatches battened down and there hasn't even been a leaf fall to the ground yet.
is it just me or do others long to see hundreds of overpaid reporters[who have whipped each other into a frenzy of much ado about nothing]swept out to sea? oh the thought of those smug bottom feeders leaving terra firma for the last time fills my heart with joy,especially the bbc. types.mind you imagine the fall out as an three mile long ego slick washes ashore!
I also cancelled my hair appointment, and I remember when it was all fields.
You can tell the south of England has been affected, the weather is headline news. If it had only affected Wales or Northern England or Scotland, the story would barely have made the tenth page. Still, it might help England's rugby team forget another walloping
I've seen much worse in my time - as usual the British media makes a great big fuss over a fairly minor weather "event" in this country. If it's not half a centimetre of wet snow causing utter chaos, then it's something approaching a gale blowing down a tree here and there or heavy rain bringing floods. Surely all this sort of thing is frequent enough in the UK without it becoming headline news! OK it was a bit windy here overnight, my dustbin lid landed in the middle of the lawn and a nearby stream is in a bit of a spate, but so what? This is England - a country where a little bit of "weather" seems to bring on a form of mass panic and hysteria, as if it's never happened before. Try and live in a country with extremes far worse than the UK would ever experience, but without bringing on the same hysterical reaction.
I sat in the traffic this morning near the Dartford Crossing which was closed even though it's been left open in stronger winds. While I was there I was continuously warned of the coming armageddon by breathless announcers. I was also warned to tax my car, not to speed, not to use my phone, give up smoking, pay the congestion / emissions tax, not to take drugs and drive, not to drink and drive. The taxpayer must be propping up half the commercial radio stations in the country with all these directives and pronouncements. Very irritating and patronising audio junk from the nanny state.
Ian 2:15 Well, that is my point, really. Lots of accusations of nannying, when the met office produce a forecast that turns out to be accurate, the media publicise it so people can be aware of it, and various commentators say sensible things about staying away from the seafront. My theory is that the complainers have themselves invested the factual information with their own dramatic overtones, and are now indignant when they see no evidence of drama where they are. Those whose cars have trees lying on them have a different perspective - but are presumably too busy sorting it out to post on here.
Alright, Cliff, it was funny the first time but no need to repeating yourself!!
Keith 12:43 I think you have slightly missed the point. No one is complaining about being told what is going to happen, it's the nannying attitude of do this, do that. All said and done, as a person living in the south, I'm not sure where it all happened, all we have had is a rather wet windy March day, with the odd bit of damage. I think that's normal for the time of year isn't it?
To those narrow minded people who complain of a "Nanny State" I would only say that travel warnings are necessary in order to deter moronic "sightseeing" as people flock to stricken areasthus hindering vital emergency work. Even becoming victims of the weather themselves, thus putting totally unecessary strain on the emergency services.
Lets just look at what they told us: An unusually deep depression is approaching. (At 946mb it is!) Windspeeds may reach 80mph. They already have (82mph) Trees may be uprooted and buildings damaged. They have. Traffic may be disrupted. It has. Seafront waves are dangerous. They are. What exactly are the met office supposed to have done wrong?
I live in Co.Donegal Ireland, the first landfall of the North Atlantic, we get hit with gales just about every night of the week in the winter and we are talking 120kms, It's normal weather for us, it's not that better in the summer, what happened to British grit.
Why are you lot wasting time on here ? is it because you didn't go into work ?
A very strong gust hit us here in St Ives Bay this morning! A 3 Metre length of flue couldn't withstand the force and it landed in the garden. Two tiles followed suit and left me like a choicken running around with no head Up I went to local store got some sandbags and crawled out the Velux window replaced the tiles and battened down the hatches. Phew!expectinf heavy winds later hope it all holds .!!!!!
We're all glad you left too, Graham Houghton.
My mother and father in law come from the Shetlands, this is business as usual for them, it just goes to show that when there is a lack of news the media will make mountain out a molehill.
The long hot sunny spells never turn up either!
Yet.......despite all the warnings to not go near the sea, etc, etc, BBC have just re-shown 6.50am footage of a reporter being buffeted and soaked on a south coast seafront. How stupid are the BBC producers? I expect they were safe and cosy in their offices while this reporter was putting herself in danger. How stupid do the BBC/Government think we are? It's March ie occasionally windy and wet Get over it.
i got no sleep this morning very gustty in whitehaven today and all around cumbria what a terrible day
There seem to be a lot of cynical people with short memories. When 13 people died in the 1987 hurricane which forecaster Michael Fish "famously" predicted would not hit the UK, and which then destroyed swathes of southern England, the voices were loudly critical of "the authorities" and a lack of warning. Better to be warned and then not to suffer than vice-versa.
I cancelled my hair appointment this morning
Mass hysteria induced again by the media that have nothing better to report. Surely at least four howling gales a year are the norm for the western tips of the UK, to say nothing of Scotland and the Channel Islands. Maybe it's too many city types inhabiting these wild and woolly places these days - more used to the wrong types of leaves on the track.
I cancelled my hair appointment this morning
I can barely recognise the nation I grew up in. Glad I left it.
Yet another excuse for failing to turn up to work/school/whatever activity you don' t fancy on a Monday morning: "Sorry, I can't come in today due to the severe weather warning". How soft do our rulers want us to become? Or is that all part of the plan...
Who's dead then, anyone or no?
After listening to the Met Office and the Environment Agency, I think I'll just go out and jump into the River Wye. No! Better idea is to be realistic and to look at www.accuweather.co.uk. There one can see a very accurate weather forecast. Not one tainted by the 'we might be sued' philosophy that pervades today.
Pretty gusty here in the Purbecks! Usual March winds and April showers. Button up your overcoat time and get on with it. When you live by the sea, high waves and spray are par for the course. What a fuss the media are making!! Get these Atlantic gales over and done with, and I am certain that March will go out like a lamb!!
Sigh... I actually stayed home from work this AM expecting the weather to get worse than the gusts and rain I was seeing.. we were warned this is 'just a lull' and the storm will come back with more force than before. Now I feel silly with the bright blue skies and light breeze.
I am in Cornwall, less than half a mile from the sea. So far its been quite windy and there has been some rain. That's fairly normal in this part of the world.
Despite all the warnings from the Coastguard, looking at some of the television news items, I noticed that the 'rubberneckers' were out in force as usual. Idiots!
I am shocked. The cost of the damge of this tin roof to the insurures must run into the billions of nanopounds. How can the companies pay out on this one? Maybe Darling Brown will need to muscle in and nationalise these as well. The fallen tree, however is much more serious. poor tree. Snuffed out in the prime of life or, more likely, going half rotten and needing to be pulled down anyway. I don't know why I am commenting - I'm in France... but it's amazing what sort of things one hears about over here!
It isn't that the government thinks you are stupid they just want to protect their tax base. Rememeber, every house will have to fork over an additional 450 pounds to balance the books.
NEWS FLASH!!!! One of our taller patio plants was blown over. Heavy lifting gear (me) was brought in to put the pot back on it's base. Some John Innes No 3 was lost. Mrs Jim is on the scene now administering a few replacement handfulls of compost. The plant is expected to recover. End of News Flash.
You are quite right Jim (at 7.44 am )but unfortunately nowadays there seems to be a lot of very stupid people about who will demand compensation when something goes wrong due to their stupidity and what is even more stupid they very often get it.
Has "'elf and safety" penetrated the Met Office? Could they be sued if someone's perm got blown away? It is just a windy day for God's sake.
March winds and april showers- we have always had gales at this time of the year. What has happened to commonsense. If you stand on a windy prom , chances are you will be blown over. The sense of doom and gloom from weather forecasters in the Blue Peter garden is galling. Why don't they revert back to old fashioned weather maps , and detail the barometric pressures, put more emphasis on lows and highs please !
It's partly because of not that stupid people sueing the nanny for not being nannyish enough that the nanny acts over-nannyish by now.
I know that most of the media conform to the 'global warming' fantasy (it sells newspapers?) so anything to do with severe weather is considered newsworthy these days - but really... a 'tin roof of a shed had become loose' - is that worth reporting? Come on, get a grip.
Sorry, but people can be so stupid, adn DO go wave watching etc etc. If there had not been a warning then the State would also have been critised for not caring - as the saying goes" you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time" I just hope that people WILL heed the fact and take notice and as a result fewer injuries and deaths occur during this dreadful weather you all experiencing.
Good gracious! A tin garage roof blown off in south Wales! Here in Bristol, a mild, sunny,pleasantly breezy morning. Hope those who are getting overexcited won't be disappointed.
Well, I checked the weather during the night and saw nothing unusual, just a normal March winds and April showers. Got up this morning with sunshine. Just the weather forecasters covering themselves in case a real storm would appear; you just cannot trust them. Ron Harrop Fareham Hants.
A bit windy and a lot of rain last night here in south west Wales. I've seen a lot worse in my 70 odd years. Every damned natural weather event has to be hyped to the roof tops these days.
Jim 7:44 If only you could do that it would be great. However there are so many people, that when something goes wrong start bleating that no one told us, or try to find someone to blame, that we are in this position of having to explain everything, and that still won't be good enough.
I'm afraid Jim that people THAT stupid
Thank God for that, Ministers were NOT involved in the meeting to plan the response to the storm, Please note it was only the response that was being planned - heaven forbid that any action should be considered!
Once again a nanny state voice is telling people how they should conduct their lives. Don't go out. Allow extra time. Take extra care. Avoid the sea. Don't go wave watching. Coastal areas will become very dangerous. Don't drive. Flights may be cancelled, and so on and so on.....People are not that stupid. Give your readers some credit for intelligence. Isn't it enough to say how bad the weather is expected to be and to let your readers adjust accordingly?