Storm Darragh: Travel disruption, events cancelled, power cuts and flood alerts in place across West Midlands
There was travel disruption, events were cancelled and flood alerts are in place as Storm Darragh hit the West Midlands.
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Black Country residents were warned yesterday as Storm Darragh was set to smash the region overnight, a yellow 'severe' warning was put into place for much of the UK with the Met Office long-range forecast expecting colder weather on Sunday with showers and blustery winds.
Flood alerts were coming in thick and fast, and a yellow warning is still in play across the Black Country.
According to the Met Office's most recent update, a very windy day is in play with Storm Darragh bringing damaging winds and disruption in places, citing it to be 'largely cloudy with rain at times' then turning more showery later in the day matched with cold temperatures maxing out at 8C.
Tonight and overnight the region will stay 'very windy' with gale force north-westerly winds, only 'slowly abating' by the morning. Residents can also expect showery rain at first, turning drier later with cold weather remaining 'largely frost-free' and a minimum temperature 3C.
Elsewhere, a new flood update has been flagged up in the region.
A flood alert for River Stour and Smestow Brook in the Black Country and South Staffordshire has been posted on the Government website.
It said: "River levels are rising at the Halesowen Manor Way river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is possible today.
"Further rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours. We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are actively checking river levels and the weather forecast. Please avoid using low lying footpaths and bridges near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded."
Travel will also be affected throughout the chaos so residents are advised to check their options well before setting off.
West Midlands Railway warned of two services that could be affected since the storm hit, including the Wolverhampton - Walsall service and the Chase line which travels through Walsall and Rugeley.
Elsewhere, posting at 6am, Avanti West Coast updated the public with 'delay and cancelations' for trains running through Wolverhampton and Stafford with all lines blocked due to an object being caught in the overhead wires between the two locations.
On its X account, formerly Twitter, It said: "Due to an object being caught in the overhead wires between Wolverhampton and Stafford, all lines are blocked. Trains running through these stations may be delayed or cancelled. Please check your journey before you travel."
As well as that, the Staffordshire Road Crime Team were 'straight out' to an road traffic collision between a HGV & a car stranded in a live lane - which thankfully had no injuries.
The road authority pleaded with followers to 'take extra care' and to 'stay safe'.
It said: "A wet and windy start for Team3RCT this morning, straight out to an RTC between a HGV & a car stranded in a live lane. Glad to report no injuries on this occasion Please take extra care in these conditions and drive to the conditions of the road, stay safe."
More updates come from National Express, which posted on its X account.
The firm said there is a diversion in place on the number 1 due to an overturned car at the Rock service.
Posting on its X account, formerly twitter, it said: "Due to a overturned car at the Rock service #1 is on diversion.
"To Tettenhall: Henwood Road, The Holloway, Church road, normal route.
"To Wolverhampton: school road, church Road, The Holloway, Bridgenorth road, Compton Road west, Clark Road ,Paget road, Tettenhall Road."
Finally, events will have also caught the sting of the 60mph winds slamming into the region today, with several events called off.
Birmingham’s Artisan Markets have been called off in Brindley Place and King’s Heath due to the wild weather, while Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens is closed today (Saturday) due to 'very high winds'.
Kidderminster Street Market and Bilston Market and car boot due to take place today and tomorrow were also cancelled.
Harvington Hall, near Kidderminster, was also closed today due to the storm.
One lane at the site was also blocked by a fallen tree.
Trees had also fallen in Mile Flat, near Wall Heath.
Meanwhile, the Beacon Centre has cancelled its Santa run which was due to take place tomorrow.
Power cuts have also been reported in the region, as earlier more than 1,000 homes were left without power in Amblecote.
The troubling disaster was reported just before 11am, today, December 7, at about 10.48am, and meant more than 1,451 properties in total were expected to be affected - but was resolved just before midday.
At the time, National Grid notified locals that it was aware of a power cut incident which was 'raised at 10.48am this morning, affecting 1,451 properties.'
Thankfully, a notification was later put up at 11.47am which stated that 'all properties' had been restored.
A spokesperson for National Grid, said: "We did have a power cut incident raised at 10:48am this morning, affecting 1,451 properties. We successfully restored all supplies in the area by 11:57am this morning.
"We are sorry for any inconvenience this caused you."
