Tens of thousands of homes in the UK have been left without power and two people have died after Storm Darragh hit the country.
Storm Darragh, the fourth of the season, is expected to bring heavy rain for the next few days, with the UK Environment Agency issuing dozens of flood warnings.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News the storm was creating a "challenging situation".
Two men were killed when trees fell on their cars in separate incidents in Lancashire, northwest England, and the West Midlands.
In Wales, the Met Office is forecasting wind gusts of up to 150km/h. Parts of Wales are facing critical conditions, including damage to transport, energy infrastructure and housing.
The Energy Networks Association said 177,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales were without power as of Saturday afternoon.
Trains were disrupted or suspended on several routes, including from Glasgow to Edinburgh in Scotland and between Cambridge and Stansted Airport in eastern England.
CrossCountry, a rail operator that operates across the country, imposed a travel ban on Saturday, December 7, due to train cancellations and long delays.
Network Rail Wales has suspended trains along the north coast of Wales due to fallen trees, and several bridges in southern England and Wales have been closed for safety reasons.
Thousands of people in Northern Ireland have been left without power, and several bus and train services have been suspended or delayed.
Christmas markets and sporting events have been postponed, including the Merseyside derby between Premier League leaders Liverpool and Everton.
In Ireland, which has issued an “orange” wind warning, 175,000 homes are without power, ESB Networks reported.
Dublin Airport said a number of flights had been cancelled by airlines due to the storm.
Darragh comes two weeks after Storm Bert lashed much of the UK, causing “devastating” flooding in parts of Wales and cutting power to thousands of homes in Ireland. | BGNES
