The British weather service Met Office states that the strongest wind was in the north of England, with 43.8 meters per second measured in Brizlee Wood Northumberland.
Around 120 trucks were stuck in the snow near Rochdale. There is further warning of wind, snow and ice across the UK on Saturday.
Red hazard warning
A rare red alert was issued from 3 pm on Friday until 2 am on Saturday. It is expected that the wind will decrease and that the level will be adjusted to orange and yellow for the rest of the day. However, very strong gusts of wind can be expected in some areas, according to the weather service.
People are advised to travel only if strictly necessary, and winds have damaged large areas of the UK overnight.
– STRONG WIND: A truck has blown over even as a result of the strong wind Photo: Owen Humphreys / AP
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In Northern Ireland, a man died when he was hit by a falling tree in County Antrim on Friday, and another man was hit by a falling tree in Cumbria. In Scotland, 80,000 people lost power, reports BBC.
Strong wind
Overnight gusts of wind affected much of the UK, according to the Met Office, with damage to buildings and blown down trees.
– MAJOR DAMAGES: A house has partially fallen out and hit a car Photo: Owen Humphreys / AP
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The wind picked up at 38 meters per second in County Down in Northern Ireland, while Inverbervie on the northeast coast of Scotland experienced gusts of wind at a speed of 35 meters per second. In Aberporth, Wales, the wind speed was 34 meters per second.
There have been power outages in several places, roads have been closed by falling objects in the worst affected areas of Scotland, and all train departures north of Newcastle were canceled after wind and heavy rain and snow showers.
The cold weather is expected to grip the weekend over the northeast and northwest of England, in the Yorkshire, West Midlands and East Midlands.
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