Storm Kathleen: Thousands of passengers hit by delays as flights cancelled

More than 140 flights departing and arriving at UK airports on Saturday have been cancelled as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind.

But the hottest temperatures of the year so far has also been provisionally recorded, with a reading of 20.9C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, according to the Met Office.

Strong winds also swept in, with 73mph recorded in Drumalbin, Lanarkshire, the forecaster said.

Major travel disruption has followed, with flights cancelled at airports including Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Belfast City.

The majority of flights affected were those within the UK and to and from Ireland.

And around 34,000 customers have been left without electricity as Storm Kathleen continues to sweep across the island of Ireland.

Power outages reported on Saturday were concentrated in Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork.

The weather warning covers the north-west and south-west of England and parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, until 10pm on Saturday.

A further yellow warning for wind has been issued for north-west Scotland on Sunday between 9am and 3pm, with gusts of up to 70mph expected again, according to the Met Office.

Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer told the PA news agency: “The storm is the reason we are seeing the warmer temperatures, because the location of the storm – situated out towards the west of the UK – is bringing a southerly wind across the UK.”

The previous highest temperature of the year was 19.9C, recorded at the end of January at Achfary in north-west Scotland.

P&O Ferries has cancelled or delayed a number of sailings between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in Scotland on Saturday due to the storm.

Meanwhile, Saturday evening’s EPCR Challenge Cup rugby match between Edinburgh Rugby and Aviron Bayonnais has been moved to Scottish Gas Murrayfield from Hive Stadium because of the strong winds expected.

On Friday, the Met Office updated its weather warning to forecast stronger gusts during Storm Kathleen than previously predicted.

It warned of injuries and danger to life from “large waves and beach material being thrown on to sea fronts, coastal roads and properties”, a possibility that “road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected” and the potential for power cuts and phone service outages.

Storm Kathleen will ease on Sunday evening, but another weather system towards the South West will replace it, Ms Glaisyer added.

She said: “Outbreaks of rain through Monday will mainly affect western parts of the UK. As we go through the day into Tuesday we’re likely to see the strongest wind across the south-west of the UK.

“It’s coming relatively quickly after Storm Kathleen.

“It’s not out of the question that a warning could be issued but I wouldn’t like to say yet.”

Storm Kathleen, named by the Irish meteorological service Met Eireann, is the 11th named storm in eight months.

It is only the second time in a UK storm season that the letter K has been reached in the alphabet.

The Met Office’s shipping forecast had 30 gale warnings in place on Saturday afternoon for sea areas including Viking, Plymouth, Biscay, Sole and Lundy.

The Environment Agency issued 15 flood warnings – where flooding is “expected” – and 115 flood alerts in England on Saturday, with National Resources Wales issuing six flood alerts.

The Environment Agency also issued 45 red cautions for strong streams on the River Thames, advising users of all boats not to navigate.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “This intense period of stormy weather is going to prove extremely challenging for anyone driving on the western side of the UK.

“We strongly urge drivers to avoid exposed coasts and higher routes where the impact of the very strong winds is most likely to be felt.”