The UK is being battered by Storm Amy, with winds of up to 100mph causing widespread disruption. The Met Office has issued ten weather warnings, including amber alerts for rain and wind in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
The north and west of Scotland are expected to be worst hit, with an amber warning for damaging winds in place from 5pm Friday until 9am Saturday. Gusts could reach 100mph in the Outer Hebrides, while 70mph winds are expected widely across the UK.
Travel disruption is severe, with some rail operators issuing 'do not travel' warnings. The Forth Road Bridge has been closed to all vehicles, and several other bridges are closed to high-sided vehicles. A gust of 99.8mph was recorded on the northernmost tip of Northern Ireland on Friday evening.
The Met Office warned of difficult driving conditions, especially for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes. Heavy rain is also expected, with flood alerts issued for the Upper River Irwell catchment area, affecting towns such as Oldham, Bolton, and Rochdale.
Manchester Airport advised passengers to take extra care and check travel updates. A line between Bolton and Blackburn is blocked due to flooding, causing train cancellations and delays until at least 17:30.
