Storm Gerrit: Hundreds lose power and further travel disruption expected as Storm Gerrit lashes country
Hundreds of people were without power on Wednesday morning as Storm Gerrit lashed the country with snow, wind and rain.
With multiple yellow weather warnings issued by the Met Office for today and tomorrow, travellers making their way home from the Christmas holidays are bracing for delays and potentially dangerous conditions.
Today is forecast to be the worst affected day, with strong winds due to hit a stretch of the south coast which could lead to transport disruption and power cuts.
Some 480 homes have been left without power as of 8am this morning, according to the Energy Networks Association (ENA).
Heavy rain is also expected in Wales, and across central and northwestern England, which could lead to flooding.
UK weather latest: Yellow warnings across UK
Snow has already started falling in Scotland, where a yellow rain and snow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm across much of the country.
Only the central section of the UK does not have a weather warning in place, as the Met Office map shows below.
Sky's Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies, reporting from Fort William, says the "main artery" road through the western Highlands has been closed.
Wind warning areas can expect gusts of 50-60mph, with up to 70mph on high ground and exposed coasts, the Met Office said.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued 15 flood alerts and three flood warnings across the country, with the UK government issuing scores of alerts and a handful of warnings for England.
The warnings for wind last until the early hours of Thursday morning in west Wales and northwest England.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the storm was named as a warning to people coming home from the Christmas holidays.
He said: "Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated," adding that it was "likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas".
"In terms of rain, we have rain warnings out for the whole of Northern Ireland, western Wales, northwest England, and then there's a combined sort of rain and snow warning for Scotland," Mr Partridge said.
Travel disruption and delays
Train, roads and ferries are suffering as severe weather bites.
Multiple trees are blocking the A82 in Scotland.
National Rail has warned routes across England, Wales and Scotland are being disrupted by Storm Gerrit.
Network Rail Scotland told passengers speed restrictions would be in place on Wednesday and to check for cancellations.
Lines between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland have now reopened after heavy rain flooded the railway - though trains may still be delayed by 15 minutes.
ScotRail customer operations director Phil Campbell said: "Unfortunately, we expect disruption to our services due to the adverse weather, and customers can expect some changes to their journeys.
"We will be working closely with our colleagues at Network Rail Scotland to ensure we are able to keep people moving as much as possible, but customers should also expect that their journeys will take longer than usual, and there could be some cancellations."
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Transport for Wales has warned that services may be impacted with delays, cancellations and alterations on Wednesday.
A tree on the line has delayed trains between Carmarthen and Whitland - while services between Llandudno or Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog have been cancelled.
Services on the Isle of Wight hovercraft are currently cancelled, but tickets are being accepted on the FastCat. All other services (Red Funnel and Wightlink) are currently running on time and remain unaffected by the weather conditions.
