Gusts hit 63mph as high winds shut bridges and cancel ferries

A yellow wind warning is in force across most of England and all of Wales, with high winds causing travel disruption.

The Met Office said gusts of up to 55mph are expected widely inland, while 70mph winds are possible along exposed coasts and hills. At 3am, the Met Office recorded winds of 63mph at Aberdaron, in northwest Wales.

By 7am, 60mph gusts had been registered at Crosby, north of Liverpool, while 56mph gusts were registered on the southern part of the Isle of Wight at St Catherine's Point.

DFDS has cancelled ferry services between Newhaven and Dieppe throughout the day because of "adverse weather".

Irish Ferries has also cancelled several services between Dublin and Holyhead, Dublin and Cherbourg and Rosslare and Pembroke.

The Severn Bridge on the M48 remains closed in both directions due to strong winds, with traffic diverted to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge instead, according to National Highways.

Meanwhile, Traffic Wales said the Cleddau Bridge on the A477 had been closed to high-sided vehicles.

The warning, which began at 8pm on Sunday and is in force until 6pm on Monday, covers almost the whole of England, including Manchester, Leeds, Hull and York, along with the whole of Wales.

Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "The strong winds will bring the risk of travel disruption, especially on Monday morning, with local power cuts possible.

"The strong winds will ease later on Monday as the low-pressure system moves away."

A separate yellow warning for rain has been issued by the Irish weather service, Met Eireann, for the counties of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo until 5pm on Monday.

The Met Office has advised people to prepare for disruption by checking road conditions if driving and changing their travel plans if necessary.

People are also advised to gather torches, batteries, a mobile phone power bank and other essential items in case of power cuts.

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Robinson says the spell of strong winds and heavy rain on Sunday has been started by an area of low pressure moving in.

The wind is forecast to pick up from the southwest on Sunday evening, bringing the risk of gales through Sunday night and into Monday.

Further north, lighter winds are expected, but the Northern Isles may see gales for a time.

(c) Sky News 2025: Gusts hit 63mph as high winds shut bridges and cancel ferries