Storms have battered parts of Britain with winds of over 90mph, bringing with them heavy rains. Severe weather warnings were issued by the Met Office on Tuesday, as they indicated flash flooding could affect parts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England.
Billy Payne, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "Much of Wales and south-west England have had gusts of over 60mph this morning. "As low pressure comes in, central and south Scotland will bear the brunt of the winds today. We will see gusts of 70 to 80 mph, even 85mph in places."
He warned of heavy rain, but added that the weather should clear in many parts of the UK by the afternoon of January 3, as reported by www.itn.co.uk.
Scotland was expected to be the hardest hit region, but the highest winds so far were recorded in Aberdaron, north Wales, which saw gusts of 93mph in the early hours of January 3.
Meanwhile, commuters returning to work after the Christmas break suffered as rail and road closures caused disruption throughout the UK.
Some east coast main line trains between London and Scotland were forced to start and terminate at Newcastle upon Tyne.
Meanwhile, buses replaced trains on some East Coast services between London and Harrogate and Hull. Drivers planning to use the Dartford Crossing were advised of possible delays due to gale-force winds.
A Highways Agency spokesman said: "As a precaution, the East Tunnel will be closed to northbound, anti-clockwise traffic from 4am with the possibility of gales affecting the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge which normally carries clockwise, southbound traffic from the M25 across the Thames."
