Britain was battered by Storm Arwen overnight with forecasters warning deadly gusts will continue into today.

Tragically the storm's first victim has been named as headteacher Francis Lagan who died when a tree fell on his car.

Weather warnings are in place across the UK today, with amber alerts across the North East and Eastern Scotland as well as the South West of England.

More than 120 lorries were stuck in heavy snow on the M62 in Greater Manchester, with the motorway shut by police while ploughs and gritters led the rescue effort.

Dozens of crashes were reported by police agencies across the UK, many roads were closed due to fallen trees, snow or ice, and more than 130,000 homes were without power on a cold night in the north.

People living in the worst-hit areas were urged to stay at home because the conditions were so treacherous.

The red warning - the first maximum alert to be issued since Storm Dennis in February 2020 - expired overnight, but amber and yellow warnings for wind remain in place.

Follow live updates in our blog below

KEY EVENT

Storm claims second life in UK as man killed by falling tree

A man has died in Cumbria after a tree fell on him as Storm Arwen battered the UK.

The tragedy happened in Ambleside at around 11pm on Friday.

The man, from Lancashire, is the second known victim of the storm after a headteacher was killed in Northern Ireland when a tree fell on his car.

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caption: Vicarage Road, Ambleside (
Image:
Google Streetview)
Dave Burke

Lots of snow after heavy night of storms

Lots of people are waking up to snow this morning after a heavy night of storms.

Dave Burke

Tens of thousands left without power with repairs 'impossible'

A reminder that those left without power because of Storm Arwen last night are likely to remain disconnected well into today.

Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear are among the worst hit, with an estimated 55,000 without electricity last night.

Northern Powergrid said: "Weather conditions are currently making it impossible to safely carry out repair works at present."

https://twitter.com/Northpowergrid/status/1464389769920720903

Chris Kitching

Video shows brutal blizzard-like conditions

This video from Cheshire shows the kind of blizzard-like conditions that are making roads treacherous across the country.

"The snow is blowing off the fields and filling the carriageway," tweeted a police sergeant who recorded the footage.

In many places, people have been urged to stay home as Storm Arwen poses a danger to life.

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Roofs blown off structures as severe gales hammer Britain

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said it had been dealing with a “large” number of incidents late on Friday “caused by the current weather conditions including many fallen trees and roofs being blown off structures”.

Photos on social media showed significant damage caused by the high winds in the town of Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire.

One picture showed an entire garage roof that had blown off and hit the side of a nearby house.

Chris Kitching

Another closure on the M62

The M62 has been closed westbound between junction 24 and junction 23 in West Yorkshire due to heavy snow.

It comes after the motorway was shut between junctions 21 and 22 in Greater Manchester.

More than 120 lorries and many cars were left stranded as snow ploughs and gritters were brought in to help rescue those stuck on the motorway for hours.

KEY EVENT

UK weather forecast: Storm Arwen set to cause more chaos today

Deadly Storm Arwen is set to batter the UK for one more day after damaging gales peaked at nearly 100mph and heavy snow caused chaos on the roads.

A headteacher was killed in Antrim, Northern Ireland when a tree fell on top of his car, more than 120 lorries were stuck in heavy snow in Greater Manchester, and more than 130,000 homes were without power overnight.

While the red weather warning expired in the early hours of Saturday, the Met Office said amber and yellow warnings for wind remained in place, with the expectation of “some very strong gusts” in many areas.

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The conditions rapidly deteriorated overnight (
Image:
NWmwaypolice/Twitter)
KEY EVENT

Latest map showing severe weather warnings

Amber weather warnings remain in place until around 9am on Saturday for the north-east coasts of England and Scotland, and the south-west coasts of England and Wales, while the yellow warning covers most of the UK until 6pm.

Wind gusts could exceed 75mph in some coastal areas today.

As much as 15cm of snow could fall in the Pennines.

Most of the UK was covered by severe weather warnings (
Image:
Met Office)
KEY EVENT

Brits advised to only travel if absolutely necessary

The UK felt the full force of Storm Arwen with gusts of almost 100 miles per hour battering some areas.

One man died, buildings were damaged and trees blown down in the “damaging” winds.

The Met Office said speeds hit 98mph at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland.

While the red weather warning expired in the early hours of Saturday, the forecaster said amber and yellow warnings for wind remained in place, with the expectation of “some very strong gusts” in many areas.

People were still advised to only travel if absolutely necessary, and the Met Office described gusts overnight as “damaging” and having affected “a wide swathe of the United Kingdom”.

KEY EVENT

More than 130,000 homes without power in Scotland and England

More than 130,000 homes are without power on a cold night.

In Scotland, about 80,000 customers are experiencing power cuts.

The main areas affected are Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perthshire and the Moray Coast.

Northern Powergrid said severe gales had caused power cuts for more than 55,000 customers, mainly in the Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear areas.

Chris Kitching

'Worst conditions ever seen'

This video shows a blizzard in Kirklees in West Yorkshire at about midnight.

The A640 was closed because the conditions were so bad.

Kirklees Council tweeted: "Our night patrol has reported that it’s the worst conditions they have ever seen up there."

KEY EVENT

More than 120 lorries stuck in heavy snow as police shut motorway

More than 120 lorries are stuck in heavy snow on a treacherous stretch of motorway which has since been shut by police.

North Way Motorway Police said the M62 was closed and it urged drivers to stay away from the area.

The force tweeted: "Heavy snow falling on M62 between junction 21 and 22, HGV's unable to move."

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Heavy snow on the M62, which was closed between junctions 21 and 22 (
Image:
NWmwaypolice/Twitter)
Chris Kitching

Storm Arwen leaves 80,000 homes without power

More than 80,000 homes are currently without power as Storm Arwen continues to wreak havoc.

Power supplier Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it "has moved to red alert status for its north of Scotland area following the impact of Storm Arwen, which continues to bring widespread disruption".

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A woman crosses a snow-covered road during Storm Arwen (
Image:
Getty Images)
Chris Kitching

Red warning expires but Storm Arwen still a danger to life

The Met Office's red warning has expired but Storm Arwen is still a threat to life.

The forecaster tweeted: "The red warning has now expired, but amber and yellow #warnings for wind remain in place as #StormArwen continues to bring some very strong gusts to many areas.

"Many roads remain closed so please only travel if absolutely necessary."

KEY EVENT

Driver 'lucky to survive' after tree crushes car

A driver is "lucky" to be alive after a tree fell and cushed a car, say police.

This photo was shared by PSNI Derry City and Strabane.

The force wrote: "This driver was lucky to walk away with only minor injuries after the wind blew down this tree onto his car as he was driving along the Letterkenny Road."

KEY EVENT

Drivers abandon cars on treacherous mountain pass

Drivers have abandoned their cars trying to cross through one of the UK's most notorious routes.

Snow, fleet and strong winds forced motorists to ditch their cars as they tried to navigate Snake Pass, said Derbyshire Police.

A Derbyshire Police spokesman said: "Motorists are being advised to avoid using the Snake Pass and the Woodhead Pass due to sleet, snow and high winds.

"Some drivers have reported becoming stuck or having to abandon their vehicles. As a result, we are now advising motorists to avoid those routes if possible."

KEY EVENT

Motorway closed after HGV overturns

Part of the M62 is closed after an HGV overturned.

The eastbound carriageway is shut between junctions 7 and 8.

North West Motorway Police have asked people to avoid the area.

Chris Kitching

Car slams into fallen tree as drivers urged to 'slow down' if they head out

Despite this late hour, we're still seeing quite a few reports of crashes on snow or ice-covered roads across the UK.

Warrington Police shared this image of a car that slammed into a fallen tree.

The force wrote: "Please be careful when travelling tonight. There is a weather warning in place due to strong winds.

"We have had plenty of fallen trees so slow down and take extra care. The driver from this was lucky and didn't have a scratch!

"Only make essential journeys to minimise risk."

In many places, drivers have been told to stay at home because the roads are so treacherous.

KEY EVENT

First victim named as headteacher who died when tree fell on car

A primary school headteacher who died after a falling tree hit his car during Storm Arwen has been pictured.

Francis Lagan, a father of four, was head of St Mary’s Primary School in Maghera, Co Londonderry, in Northern Ireland, for several years and well known in the local community.

Click here to read more.

KEY EVENT

Drivers warned to stay at home

Drivers in and around Aberdeenshire have been urged not to travel in the morning.

They should stay at home until the roads are declared safe, say local officials.

Heavy snow and fierce winds have been causing travel chaos across the UK.

Ryan Merrifield

Where are the strongest winds?

Storm Arwen is set to bring gusts of up to 90mph before the red warning is lifted at 2am on Saturday.

But where are the strongest winds so far?

According to BBC figures, they're all in Scotland, with Inverbervie seeing 78mph this evening.

This was followed by Lossiemouth and Boulmer, both at 74mph, Charterhall and Kirkwall at 71, and Aberdeen at 68.

Gusts are forecast to be as high as 100mph with the alert
Ryan Merrifield

Snow is falling in southern England

Snow has already started to fall across southern England, including Devon.

Residents in Dartmoor, Plymouth and Efford all reported snowfall earlier this evening

WXCHARTS has more signs of snow appearing in the early hours of Saturday, around 3am.

"We might see some snow in more southern parts of the UK, but it won't be the whole of the country. Many areas won't quite be cold enough", the Met Office's Tom Morgan.

(
Image:
NurPhoto/PA Images)
Ryan Merrifield

When will the red warning be lifted?

The red weather warning will lapse in a few hours time at 2am, leaving two broader amber weather warnings stretching across eastern Scotland and north-east England.

And a second zone of strong winds for Wales and the South West.

Even after the severe red warning is lifted, wind gusts for these areas will be running at 60-70mph into mid-morning.

Ryan Merrifield

Rail services disrupted by flying barn

Growing winds thanks to Storm Arwen have picked up a farmer's barn and flung it onto a railway line, causing delays.

ScotRail tweeted that services on the busy lines between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen St, Dunblane and Stirling were disrupted by the incident.

And Network Rail Scotland urged those who live near the railway to ensure trampolines, gazebos or other garden furniture are "tied down".

"If they blow on to the tracks, they can pose a major hazard to trains, staff and passengers," said, along with a photo of a rogue trampoline wedged next to a train.

Ryan Merrifield

25,000 homes in Scotland are without power

Around 25,000 homes in Scotland are currently without power due to Storm Arwen.

Coastal areas of Angus, Fife, Aberdeenshire, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders, along with Aberdeen and Dundee, are all covered by the Met Office's red weather alert.

Ryan Merrifield

Merseyrail reporting 'major' disruption

Merseyrail is reporting 'major' disruption to the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines.

A spokesperson said: "Alterations to services at Aughton Park due to a fallen tree blocking the tracks at Aughton Park the Ormskirk line is disrupted.

"Alterations to services between Rice Lane and Kirkby Due to a fallen tree blocking the tracks between Rice Lane and Kirkby."

There are also issues on the Southport and Hunts Cross lines due to an obstruction on the track between Birkdale and Ainsdale.

A limited Rail Replacement bus service is now operating on this line between Rice Lane and Kirkby.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is advising people to remain indoors as the wind picks up.

They have been called to a number of incidents including fallen trees and roofs being blown away.

A Merseyrail train passes a station platform
Ryan Merrifield

Shoppers hit Black Friday sales despite storms

Bargain-hunters up and down the UK were undeterred by the incoming storm to hit the Black Friday sales.

As rain lashed down in the likes of Bromley High Street in South East London, shoppers were happy to brave the wet and increasingly windy weather.

Two women fighting the windy weather on Black Friday in Bromley High Street (
Image:
Grant Falvey/LNP)
Ryan Merrifield

Deputy First Minister's plea

Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "The decision by the Met Office to issue a rare red weather warning for strong winds signals a potentially damaging and dangerous risk to life in some areas of Scotland.

"People in these affected areas should not travel under any circumstances, including motorists.

"Yellow and amber weather warnings also remain in place for a number of areas and people should continue to exercise extreme caution and plan any necessary journeys in advance as there is disruption to transport services.

"The Scottish Government is in close contact with local authorities and the emergency services to ensure people in the affected areas receive the latest information, advice and support where needed."

Scottish Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney (
Image:
Getty Images)
Ryan Merrifield

Gazebos in Dundee city centre collapse

All of the gazebos put up in Albert Square in Dundee have blown over and collapsed.

Photos shared on Twitter show the impact Storm Arwen has had in the Scottish city centre.

Ryan Merrifield

I'm A Celebrity live show cancelled over Storm Arwen

ITV bosses have been forced to cancel I'm A Celebrity's live show for the first time in 19 years as a "precautionary" measure over Storm Arwen.

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have pre-recorded tonight's show as production put measures in place.

The show has confirmed that all the celebrities will remain inside the castle, which they have confirmed is secure.

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I'm a Celebrity hosts Ant & Dec (
Image:
ITV/REX/Shutterstock)