A woman in Wolverhampton killed by fallen debris
Port of Liverpool closed, flights and trains cancelled
QE2 and Orwell bridges closed due to high winds
Snow blocks Scotland’s M80
Stormy conditions likely to hit turnout in byelections
8.06pm GMT
This liveblog is closing for the evening now. For more on Storm Doris, read Rob Booth’s news story wrapping up events of the day.
Related: Woman killed by falling debris as Storm Doris lashes UK
8.00pm GMT
A ceiling collapse that left a girl with life-threatening injuries at a school in Milton Keynes may have been caused by “adverse weather conditions”, local police have said. The accident happened with about 40 children in the sports hall at Southwood Middle School. One other child was injured but did not have to go to hospital.
Thames Valley Police said it would be conducting a joint investigation with the local fire and rescue service.
7.17pm GMT
Here’s a summary of the afternoon and early evening’s developments on Storm Doris:
6.50pm GMT
Author Kate Allatt tweets these pictures of a van on its side near Buxton in Derbyshire. Elsewhere, Euston station will stay open overnight for the benefit of passengers waiting to travel tomorrow, its official Twitter account says, while Warren Street, King’s Cross and Euston Square have all re-opened.
Ahh now I realise whythere was a police road block between Leek & Buxton #oops #scary #stormdoris #doris @adpku Lovely day, pic.twitter.com/c4Fuo69Afw
6.29pm GMT
West Midlands police have confirmed that a 29-year-old woman died in Wolverhampton after being struck by “wooden debris from a nearby building” earlier today.
Rebecca Davis, a 40-year-old teacher, said she saw a woman aged “between 20 and 30” receiving CPR after the incident outside Starbucks.
6.23pm GMT
King’s Cross St Pancras underground station is closed while faulty escalators are fixed, according to an official TfL Twitter account. Meanwhile, Warren Street has been closed due to overcrowding, and Euston remains closed. Not a pleasant evening for the capital’s workers.
5.56pm GMT
If you’re yet to contemplate the agony of your commute home, National Rail has a useful page to help you figure it out that includes links to information about affected journeys across the country. 22 train operating companies are affected - out of 26 in total.
5.42pm GMT
Photographer Simon Paul Felton posts a picture he took at Birmingham New Street station, where some trains are now running but delays continue.
Not seen @NetworkRailBHM this busy since @atGrandCentral & station opened. #stormdoris travel disruption. pic.twitter.com/oJPzOmlG4K
5.24pm GMT
David Fleming, an 18-year-old from Perth, posted this video after what he said was a crash landing at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. The airport’s official account tweeted that a Flybe flight’s landing gear had collapsed during touchdown and added that no one had been injured. Earlier the airport had warned of delays because of strong winds, but it didn’t make any explicit connection between the Flybe plane’s problems and the weather.
Crash landing @Schiphol Edinburgh to Amsterdam Flight BE1284 @BBCScotlandNews @BBCBreaking @SkyNews @STVNews @flybe @airlivenet #StormDoris pic.twitter.com/U25HzBdxf3
5.12pm GMT
Things should be getting at least a little calmer soon: as we head into Thursday evening and Storm Doris moves out into the North Sea, the winds will begin to decrease, according to Met Office meteorologist Emma Sharples.
“Then the focus turns more to it turning cold, frosty and icy overnight with wintry showers around as well,” she said.
4.47pm GMT
Storm Doris wasn’t enough to keep one man from running naked through the streets of Sheffield today, the Derry Journal reports. No explanation has apparently been found so far to explain the man’s stunt.
4.43pm GMT
Virgin Trains East Coast services are said to be severely disrupted by Storm Doris. Their trains across the whole East Coast are expected to be cancelled or delayed by up to 100 minutes. Commuters have been advised not to travel today and told their tickets will be valid for use on tomorrow’s trains.
Other services are having similar problems.
⚠️ #StormDoris - Services across the whole network may be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 mins. Disruption expected til the end of the day
Southeastern trains from London Blackfriars will be starting from London Victoria tonight because of disruption caused by #StormDoris pic.twitter.com/mUyGqJLj7c
4.41pm GMT
ITV’s Damon Green takes on Doris.
Just go home mate. We know it's windy #stormdoris #blownaway pic.twitter.com/JM8Wla2Fio
4.25pm GMT
Trampolines across the UK are finally escaping from the iron grip of their owners.
Meanwhile, in Liverpool... "I'm free! Help, save me!" #StormDoris pic.twitter.com/0I4ukcBclM
4.06pm GMT
Not the most ideal conditions to be learning to drive in.
This driving instructor had a VERY lucky escape from #StormDoris https://t.co/Xi8KdBCbBb pic.twitter.com/OSEUAArv31
4.05pm GMT
Earlier this afternoon, the wind toppled a double-decker bus onto its side in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire at around 1pm, an East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said. Paramedics assessed 15 people at the scene on Lynn Road but no-one involved is believed to be in a serious or life-threatening condition.
A man is thought to have been injured by a section of falling debris near Cardinal Place shopping centre in Victoria, central London. Paramedics and police were at the scene, which was close to a new entrance to London Underground on Victoria Street.
4.01pm GMT
A Birmingham taxi driver was inches away from death after Storm Doris caused a tree to fall onto his car, Jack Butler reports. Surprisingly the 35 year-old driver managed to leave the vehicle with no serious injuries. An ambulance attended to the driver but he declined hospital treatment. A video can be viewed on the Birmingham Mail site.
3.57pm GMT
Do you know who likes Doris? Uber. I’m currently in an Uber back to London with three other lost souls I met at Hatfield train station, where questions about the next train into the capital were met with a shrug.
Currently it looks like a fare that would normally cost around £55-60 is going to set up back around £100 as the company implements it’s “surge” pricing to capitalise on the trains chaos. And the traffic is bad. Happy days.
3.51pm GMT
Former footballer and pundit Robbie Savage has filmed a scene from the flight he was on from Seville.
Bumpy ride landing from Sevilla in #stormdoris well done to the pilot on @Monarchairline1 #LCFC fans cheering at the end!!! pic.twitter.com/IhGhkcnzpM
3.36pm GMT
All trains to and from Birmingham have been cancelled due to the storm.
Birmingham trains cancelled pic.twitter.com/mbIFa2ibHo
3.28pm GMT
Here are some of the strongest gusts we have seen so far today from #StormDoris pic.twitter.com/SzkoRG0pH3
3.26pm GMT
In central London, scaffolding became dislodged atop an office block in the Aldwych at Holborn, where the green light has been given for a £15 million rooftop extension. The roadway was cordoned off as a ribbon of scaffolding hung from the roof at Aldwych House, built in 1926.
Slightly distracted this lunchtime by the wind blowing the scaffolding off the building opposite! #Aldwych #roadclosure pic.twitter.com/njdJ3KLE5p
3.17pm GMT
Video from Merseyside this morning shows winds blowing someone off their feet.
#StormDoris is literally blowing people off their feet in Merseyside pic.twitter.com/PElL7Hkfwc
Scenes from #Euston after a number of cancellations due to #stormdoris pic.twitter.com/BfW2lGaGiD
3.15pm GMT
Another Guardian colleague, Alexandra Topping, has been trying to get back to London from St. Albans crown court. All trains in and out of St. Albans have been cancelled, she said, with commuters directed onto circuitous local buses to Hatfield.
“At Hatfield station there are currently a handful of Great Northern rail workers, two nuns and many disgruntled and cold travellers hanging around, but no trains to London. All train companies seem to have been floored by the weather bomb. I’m rapidly losing my optimism.”
3.12pm GMT
East Midlands trains have just suspended all trains from Sheffield/Nottingham to London St Pancras International, according to my colleague Jim Powell, who has been trying for most of the day to get into London.
2.59pm GMT
Train services from London Paddington have also been hit by storm damage.
A large tree is blocking the railway between Reading and Guildford and all lines are blocked. Disruption to services is expected until 1630. pic.twitter.com/ypHXmr9Cag
High winds and rain are affecting our services. Please check your journey before travelling: https://t.co/kSQp5pCyxo. pic.twitter.com/pC1sGp1SwL
2.53pm GMT
Two ferries have been unable to dock at Rosslare Harbour, in Ireland since this morning due to the weather conditions, writes Jack Butler.
Ferries Isle of Inishmore and Stena Europe both departed from ports in Wales in the early hours of this morning and have been forced to ride out the weather conditions for around seven hours.
2.45pm GMT
All trains from London Kings Cross to Doncaster have been suspended, according to Virgin Trains.
2.41pm GMT
A house in Wigan is still standing after being hit by fallen tree, but it might need a new gutter.
Our teams are working hard dealing with tree falls across the borough like this one in Hindley #stormdoris pic.twitter.com/Pe5IvKsRff
2.37pm GMT
A man in Witcham, Cambridgeshire escaped with only torn jacket when a tree fell on his car, according to this video.
Just spoken to the lucky fella who walked away from this gods were looking down on him today #stormdoris #DorisDay Witcham pic.twitter.com/nY5HHjmYwH
2.29pm GMT
Politicians continue to brave the elements as they urge voters to do the same to get to the polling stations in the two byelections in Copelands and Stoke Central.
Clouds coming down, it's wet + windy with #stormdoris but it's all good for #TrudyHarrison in #keswick as part of #CopelandByElection pic.twitter.com/jjKEcvibPh
#Copeland voters will find it is worth battling #StormDoris to go and vote for Trudy @Conservatives today pic.twitter.com/xlKZ7dqbQg
Well not even #StormDoris will stop us GOTV in #StokeCentral. On the #LabourDoorStep for @gareth_snell with @ameliarout & @stokey4labour. pic.twitter.com/s7dLitpY83
V helpful @VirginTrains guard on 1020 from Euston, still travelling towards Stoke, v delayed by #stormdoris. Thanks for updates & info
Had turbulent flight back from Geneva. Landed at @EMA_Airport 45 minutes ago, but #stormdoris too windy to get a ladder up to the plane!
2.13pm GMT
A bridge and a teaching block at Leicester University have been closed because of high winds, writes Rachel Obordo.
GuardianWitness has been sent a video of a basket hanging off the roof of the main engineering building at the University of Leicester.
Dr David Weston, lecturer in materials engineering, who filmed the video from an adjacent building, said: “The engineering tower has a basket and crane on the roof. The basket has broken away from its fittings and is disintegrating due to repeated impact. The building has been evacuated and the area cordoned off.
“People are not allowed in and it’s too dangerous to go up and fix the problem, but everything’s under control. I think they’re just going to wait until the winds die down before they can safely secure the basket.”
@uniofleicester @LeicesterUnion We have had to close the Attenborough Bridge between the seminar block and the tower.
2.04pm GMT
Horse racing at Chelmsford is still on despite reports of an exploding commentary box.
Commentary box has exploded at @ChelmsfordCRC @AtTheRaces #doris
Chelmsford City feels the wrath of Storm Doris as this is what's left of the commentary box windows... pic.twitter.com/DeN3F41RHs
Just a reminder - we will update our social media if necessary - otherwise we are racing! https://t.co/mJCPG3yKD5
1.58pm GMT
An Emirates Plane was forced to abort a landing at Manchester Airport due to strong winds, writes Jack Butler.
Video footage shows flight EK17 bumpy approach to the runway.
LIVE Jet2 Boeing 737-800 flight #LS812 also aborted landing at Manchester. Watch live on https://t.co/pvXE9CRKq6 #stormdoris pic.twitter.com/ShVYOBiQyb
1.52pm GMT
Here’s a summary on the latest impact form Storm Doris:
1.18pm GMT
West Midlands Ambulance Service has confirmed that a woman died after a piece of debris fell onto her outside Starbucks on Dudley Street street in Wolverhampton.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews found a woman who had suffered very serious head injuries.”
1.02pm GMT
A woman has been killed in Wolverhampton city centre in a Storm Doris-related
incident, PA reports.
12.56pm GMT
Trampolines have been trying to escape from gardens all over the country.
Storm Doris Live damage UK. #stormdoris https://t.co/zzdTafufZj
#stormdoris @itvnews @BBCNWT bit breezy here in runcorn pic.twitter.com/JInmZxHoh4
A man narrowly escapes falling trampoline https://t.co/znBz174c8V pic.twitter.com/7y4n1f5k04
12.49pm GMT
London Fire Brigade says it has dealt with around 20 storm related incidents including a trampoline that blew from a garden onto a roundabout in Eltham, in the south-east of the city.
It also freed a woman trapped in a car by a fallen tree in Purley.
12.39pm GMT
Related: Ruff weather: have your pets been affected by Storm Doris?
12.37pm GMT
More than 400 homes have been left without power in Stockport. Electricity North West says it hopes to restore the supply by 5pm.
**UPDATE** Engineers in #SK12 #Stockport are hoping to restore all 419 customers by 5pm this evening!
Thank you for your patience - Lois
12.05pm GMT
All trains from London Euston station have been suspended.
All services from Euston currently suspended due to #StormDoris Check @nationalrailenq for latest updates avoid travelling if possible
@mattwigman We are now advising customers to travel tomorrow due to storm. ^PA
12.00pm GMT
A race meeting at Huntingdon has been abandoned due to high winds.
Unfortunately due to the high winds, we have no choice but to abandon racing. Safety of the jockeys and horses has to be the main priority
11.56am GMT
Fallen trees have caused yet more problems on the rail network. Services between Bicester and Banbury in Oxfordshire and New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace in London are the latest to be hit.
#StormDoris - A tree blocking the railway between Bicester North and Banbury means that trains are unable to run between these stations.
#StormDoris - A tree blocking the railway at New Cross Gate means that trains are unable to run between New Cross Gate / Crystal Palace.
Refuse crews may be late collecting bins due to fallen trees on A449&Hallow Rd delaying vehicles from emptying at Hartlebury Incinerator.
11.49am GMT
ITV has footage of pedestrians being blown off their feet in Liverpool.
#StormDoris is literally blowing people off their feet in Merseyside pic.twitter.com/PElL7Hkfwc
11.39am GMT
The M80 between Glasgow and Stirling has now reopened in both directions. But Traffic Scotland warns that it may take a while for delays to clear.
*CLEARED*#M80 is now RE-OPEN BOTH WAYS , it may take a while for delays to clear.
Thank you for your patience!#Central @BEAR_M80 https://t.co/l11lzJ0PAx
11.37am GMT
Channel 4’s weather man Liam Dutton is on the windswept sea front in Rhyl in north Wales.
Lashing rain and vicious winds of around 70mph here on the sea front in Rhyl with stormy seas. Hard to stand. #StormDoris pic.twitter.com/AiolrjXAYJ
11.33am GMT
Another fallen tree has just shut one of the rail lines into London Bridge, according to my colleague Steve Draper who is trying to get to work. He’s been told there is a tree down between New Cross and Brockley.
11.30am GMT
That driver trapped in a van by a fallen tree in Cornwall has been freed and is recovering in hospital, according to Cornwall Live.
The driver, a man said to be in his early fifties, was trapped in his white Iveco van for about an hour when it was hit by the falling tree between Antony and Sheviock.
Police have confirmed that the driver has been freed from the vehicle and taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. The full extent of his injuries was not yet known.
11.26am GMT
The Met Office has issued a new yellow, be aware, warning for ice on Friday in Scotland, Northern Ireland and much of Northern England.
A yellow severe weather warning for #ice has been issued: https://t.co/RXM6uMNjXK. Stay #weatheraware @metofficeuk pic.twitter.com/FZiizPOy3G
11.24am GMT
Traffic Scotland has announced that the M80 has reopened southbound between Stirling and Glasgow. But the northbound route remains blocked.
⚠UPDATE⚠ 10:40#M80 has *RE-OPENED* S/B J9 Bannockburn, N/B remains blocked, gritters still working on it.#DriveSafe#Central @BEAR_M80 https://t.co/l11lzJ0PAx
11.17am GMT
Storm Doris has even hit Coronation Street. Outdoor filming for the Manchester-based soap was brought to a halt, according to PA. A spokeswoman for the ITV programme said filming would be rescheduled.
Trying to film #Corrie in #StormDoris....nasty! pic.twitter.com/1dqumm1YMR
11.14am GMT
Scottish Power vehicles got a police escort to Anglesey to help restore electricity supplies amid reports of widespread power outages on the North Wales island.
Escorting @ScottishPower vehicles over to #Anglesey to restore electricity to homes & businesses without it #StormDoris pic.twitter.com/GnsGPBHRIs
11.07am GMT
More fallen tree news...
Power to more 200 homes in Macclesfield has been cut because of a fallen tree.
We have removed supplies to 219 in #SK10 #Macclesfield due to a fallen tree which has damaged our equipment.
Engineers en route #PowerCut
We are taking numerous calls about trees down in roads across the county; please take extra care when out #StormDoris
Tree down in Hooton Green near the Chimneys Inn. Hooton. Try to void this road. #stormdoris pic.twitter.com/mkPaG5IEs7
It looks like we've lost another tree at County Antrim's Dark Hedges, made famous by @GameOfThrones. Photo from Paul Morgan. #stormdoris pic.twitter.com/M5fsYNGkWX
11.02am GMT
Highways England has closed the QE2 Bridge over the Thames at Dartford. Expect long delays on the M25 as the bridge is not expected to reopen until 6pm.
Highways England has CLOSED the QE2 Bridge - not expected to reopen until 6pm #stormdoris #Essex https://t.co/MxvnL7KToy pic.twitter.com/6AXMGrMeKM
Orwell Bridge closed due to strong winds #stormdoris https://t.co/PJqidrACxo pic.twitter.com/GuzvWIdpYJ
10.46am GMT
Labour MPs are doing their best to get out the vote in the byelection in storm-hit Stoke Central.
Storm Doris hitting #StokeonTrentCentral hard. Drenched and leaflets like Papier mache. Great team working hard for #Labour4Stoke
Today vote @UKLabour in #stokebyelection. If we let extremism in #stormdoris will be a breeze in comparison to the havoc that will follow
10.41am GMT
Storm Doris has hit London. Here was the scene a little while ago on the Euston Road outside the British Library.
Thanks Storm Doris! #stormdoris #london pic.twitter.com/uF6MRGNivq
10.36am GMT
Fire crews are working to free a man trapped in van by a fallen tree on the A374 near Torpoint in Cornwall.
The crews are using winches and crash rescue equipment to release the man, according to Cornwall Fire and Rescue.
A374 between Antony and Sheviock still closed in both directions - large tree on top of van - working to clear - please avoid area
@DaveThroupEA Big tree just down blocking 2 lanes north and 1 south on #A449 near Hawford just North of #Worcester. Will take some shifting pic.twitter.com/ZCGUoaPYza
10.22am GMT
Here’s why the Port of Liverpool has been closed.
#stormdoris #NewBrighton #Liverpool pic.twitter.com/4cL5SomxKd
Don't be tempted to get a closer look at the power of #StormDoris - NO photo is worth risking your life for #safetyfirst ©@PaulKingstonNNP pic.twitter.com/exxVwCJX0k
10.18am GMT
Heavy snow saw traffic on one of Scotland’s busiest motorways, the M80, grind to a halt during rush hour, causing chaos for commuters, writes our Scotland editor Severin Carrell.
The M80 was closed in both directions after lorries jack-knifed and drivers slid over the road.
Chaos on the M80 which is one of Scotland's busiest motorways. Completely closed just now with commuters stranded. #snow #StormDoris pic.twitter.com/blATqj7bHZ
Please be careful on SW Scotland's roads today. Plenty of #EXTREMEWEATHER still around. For updates @trafficscotland https://t.co/m7AaFbAkQt pic.twitter.com/p3e035jXHg
10.16am GMT
Storm Doris is causing particular havoc to the rail network in the north west. Debris on the line in Port Sunlight and Hoylake has led to delays and cancelled trains.
#StormDoris - Debris blown onto the track by high winds at Port Sunlight is causing delays and cancellations. This is expected until 10:45
#StormDoris - Debris has blown on the track at Hoylake causing delays and cancellations to trains between Bidston and West Kirby.
#StormDoris - Flooding between Lockerbie and Carlisle is causing delays of up to 60 minutes. This is expected to continue until 10:45.
10.10am GMT
The Port of Liverpool has been closed amid 100mph wind gusts.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Port of Liverpool is closed. pic.twitter.com/DiPA6n2u3c
10.01am GMT
The Irish Sea is currently one of the windiest places on earth, according Thomas Smith a geography lecturer at King’s College London.
The Irish Sea is currently one of the windiest places on the planet! #DorisDay https://t.co/0CQhWu4Lq4 @cambecc pic.twitter.com/iaNj3oQ330
9.52am GMT
Damage to overhead power lines in St Albans has caused trains to be cancelled from London’s St Pancras station. Network Rail warns of disruption until at least noon.
My colleague Alexdrana Topping writes:
I’m currently in a taxi going to St Albans crown court for the sentencing of Ian Stewart, because there are currently no Thameslink trains going north from St Pancras.
High winds have brought down electricity lines and the system is currently showing severe delays southbound too.
St Pancras deserted as all trains cancelled #stormdoris pic.twitter.com/92VtCuj43B
Blimey #stormdoris on stationery train at St Pancras and it's rocking in the gales. Now told all services cancelled from St P
9.36am GMT
The Met Office is warning of injury from falling debris such roof tiles and trees.
The BBC’s Andy Gill posted this video of a fallen tree in Caerns Road in Birkenhead.
Tree blocking Cearns Rd #Oxton #Wirral #stormdoris @BBCNWT @bbcmerseyside pic.twitter.com/k5zysP0KVP
#StormDoris making a right mess of the scaffolding on Water Street in Liverpool - road partially closed! #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/Gx9RbTQeRp
View from the office! Please be careful on the #Waterfront #stormdoris #AlbertDock #Liverpool pic.twitter.com/Fj1pMgf8X2
9.25am GMT
BBC Weather reports a wind gust of 94mph in Capel Curig in North Wales.
In the last hour we've had the strongest gust from #StormDoris so far at Capel Curig (NW Wales) with a gust of 94mph! CF
9.19am GMT
It’s official Storm Doris is a weather bomb, according to the Met Office.
#StormDoris has rapidly deepened over the last 24 hours as it has under gone what we call Explosive Cyclogenisis making it a #WeatherBomb pic.twitter.com/U7VI7WDGtT
A ‘weather bomb’ is not a perfect meteorological term but is defined as an intense low pressure system with a central pressure that falls 24 millibars in a 24-hour period. A better description can be more directly linked to the meteorological phenomena known as rapid or explosive cyclogenesis. This is where dry air from the stratosphere flows into an area of low pressure. This causes air within the depression to rise very quickly and increases its rotation, which in turn deepens the pressure and creates a more vigorous storm.
9.11am GMT
The M80 northbound in Scotland between Glasgow and Stirling has been closed due to snow.
⚠UPDATE⚠#M80 is now ⛔CLOSED⛔ N/B after J5 Auchenkilns & S/B from J9 Bannockburn due to snow ❄⛄#AVOID #DriveSafe#Central @BEAR_M80 pic.twitter.com/qa1U4be6YS
9.04am GMT
Almost 50,000 homes in the Irish Republic are without power this morning mainly due to Storm Doris felling trees knocking down power lines, writes Henry McDonald.
The Republic’s Electricity Supply Board said the power outages are in counties Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo and Dublin. Irish airline Aer Lingus has cancelled 12 flights between Ireland and Britain today.
9.00am GMT
Google Trends has compiled a list of the five most Storm Doris-related questions asked on the search engine in the last 24 hours.
"Where will Storm Doris hit?" Top questions in the UK on #StormDoris in the last 24 hours pic.twitter.com/XdYWNSCYBV
#StormDoris has rapidly deepened over the last 24 hours as it has under gone what we call Explosive Cyclogenisis making it a #WeatherBomb pic.twitter.com/U7VI7WDGtT
An Amber severe weather warning for #wind has been updated: https://t.co/jTkOo9Ials . Stay #weatheraware @metofficeuk pic.twitter.com/5wGfgkUIvo
8.36am GMT
Yorkshire and north west England is bracing itself for extreme winds as an amber weather warning has been issued for the whole area including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull, writes Nazia Parveen.
Highways England issued an alert for major roads in the area including the M1 and M62.
Motorists were warned to expect widespread travel disruption, power cuts and flying debris.
High winds of Storm Doris set to continue until 6:00pm. Drivers of high sided vehicles & motorcycles should avoid the coast road if possible
8.30am GMT
The areas forecast for the worst of the storm include Stoke-on-Trent Central and Copeland where byelections are taking place. There are fears that the storm could hit turnout.
The byelection in Stoke Central was caused by the resignation of Tristram Hunt. In 2015 he had the lowest electoral mandate of all the MPs in the Commons.
There is one caveat, however. “If you had a January snowstorm”, says John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde, “it would make a difference but for the most part the weather is mildly inclement at these times of year [when general elections are held]. So you might need to take a brolly with you or you might have sunshine but you won’t have a howling gale or snow or serious travel disruption.”
That last point is important. While rain might not put people off voting, difficulties getting to the polling station can. So a truly chaotic storm could affect a result.
8.17am GMT
There has been no sign yet of the deep snow forecast for parts of Scotland and Northumberland, but some of the higher roads have already had dusting of snow.
Snow falling on the A68 at Soutra at 6.50am this morning. Please take care if heading this way. pic.twitter.com/thXix0Iayb
Higher sections of the #A9,#A85,#A83,#A9 and #A889 have snow but the ploughs are out on all routes. #stormdoris
We have 32 gritters and 7 tractors out on the Network at the moment patrolling and treating where required. Snow possible in all areas
8.04am GMT
Warnings of violent storm force 11 winds have been issued in the western shipping areas of Rockall, Shannon and Irish Sea. This is just one notch down hurricane force 12 winds.
The phrase “cyclonic severe gale” cropped up a lot in the latest Shipping Forecast.
7.57am GMT
Speed restrictions have been imposed on the Tay Road and the Forth Road bridges in Scotland.
High Winds – Bridge Closed to Double Decker Buses, 30mph speed restriction in place. (06:57 23/02/2017)
High winds – Speed restriction on bridge (05:19 GMT 23/02/2017)
7.50am GMT
Welcome to live coverage on the impact of Storm Doris as it hurtles into the UK bringing snow, gusts of up to 87mph winds and widespread travel problems.
You have been warned ... the Met Office has issued two amber be prepared warnings - one for up to 30cm of snow in Scotland and parts of Northumberland, and one for winds of up to 80mph in Wales, the Midlands, Northern England and East Anglia.
Continue reading...