Storm Darragh latest: Two men die and hundreds of thousands without power as winds reach 93mph (2025)

We'll be pausing our coverage of the storm for now.

Here are the key lines from today:

• Two people have died after trees fell;
• Gusts of 93mph were recorded in Capel Curig, Wales;
• The Cabinet Office's emergency alert system sent a red alert message to millions of compatible mobile phone in the impacted areas, containing information and guidance on how to stay safe;
• The Energy Networks Association said 259,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales are without power;
• Today's Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool was called off due to severe weather conditions.

A spokesperson for Energy Networks Association (ENA) has given the latest figures for the numbers of people in Great Britain who do not currently have power.

The ENA - which represents the energy networks in the UK and Ireland and the members of which operate the national grid - said the main affected areas are the south and southwest of England, and Wales.

In a statement released shortly before 10pm tonight, the ENA said: "Engineers have reconnected 80% of customers affected by Storm Darragh on Saturday and 259,000 customers are without power as of 8pm this evening."

Earlier, (see 18.10 post), it said 177,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales were without power.

The ENA added tonight: "In some of the worst affected areas it is unsafe to deploy engineers due to strong, destructive winds forecast to continue overnight and into tomorrow.

"Energy network operators have activated welfare facilities and are proactively contacting customers on the Priority Services Register."

The association advised anyone who comes across, or is aware of downed power lines to stay away and to called 105 to report it.

If there is a threat to life, people in the UK should call 999.

Met Office yellow weather warnings remain in force for wind across the whole of England and Wales until 6pm on Sunday evening.

The National Grid said, as of 7pm, 174,288 properties across South Wales, the South West and the Midlands were without power, but warned it was "a fast moving situation".

The company said it has restored supplies to more than 920,000 homes and businesses since Friday.

In an update posted at 5pm, the Northern Ireland Electricity Network said around 48,000 of its customers were still without power.

In Ireland, around 120,000 properties still had no power as of 8.45pm, ESB Networks said, adding that it had restored supply to 275,000 customers over the course of Saturday.

A second person has died during Storm Darragh after a man was killed when a tree fell and hit his car on Saturday afternoon.

West Midlands Police said they were called to Silver Birch Road, Erdington, just after 3pm on Saturday following reports that a tree had fallen and hit a car as a result of the storm conditions.

Sergeant Benjamin Parsons, of the force's roads policing unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the man's family at this time, and his next of kin have been informed.

"A report will be passed onto the coroner. Anyone who saw what happened or who may have dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to please get in touch."

Earlier a man in his 40s was killed when a tree fell and hit his van in Lancashire.

By science and technology editor, Tom Clarke

Storm Darragh is the first storm since last January’s Isha to earn a red “threat to life” warning from the Met Office.

And it has lived up to that dubious honour.

The highest recorded windspeed was 93mph (150kph) in Capel Curig in Wales and least one person is thought to have died as a result of the storm.

While Darragh wasn’t the most intense storm in recent years, it was a monster. The extra-tropical cyclone (to give it it’s proper title) measured 1000km (621 miles) across as it passed right over the UK.

Revolving anti-clockwise, as such storms do, it encircled our coasts with winds from the North and East with the most powerful barreling in from the South West.

It’s just over two weeks since Storm Bert brought widespread flooding and high winds to Wales and southern England with four named storms now in the last three months.

So, it’s not unreasonable to ask: Is the UK getting stormier?

Read more here:

The Energy Networks Association has said 177,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales are without power now.

A spokesperson also said around 768,000 customers have been reconnected today, with more than 1,000 engineers ready to be deployed.

It comes as gusts of 93mph were recorded in some parts of the country, while millions of people were warned to stay indoors.

Trains and some bus services were suspended and nearly 50,000 customers left without power as high winds swept across the country.

Storm Darragh is expected to bring heavy rain over the weekend and the Environment Agency has said river flooding is likely in parts of Hereford.

Yellow weather warnings for wind will be in place across much of the UK, including London and the South East, on Sunday.

Here are a few of the scenes across the UK today...

We asked people in Bangor, Wales, what they thought of the impact of Storm Darragh.

One described slates and tiles falling off people's roofs but said it was "no biggie," adding: "All storms pass eventually."

Another said: "It's not Wizard-of-Oz stuff at this point in time, no roofs going over [the] top."

Meath County Council Fire & Rescue Service has said crews have been attending numerous incidents today.

Earlier, gusts of 93mph were recorded in some parts of the country, while millions of people were warned to stay indoors.

Some 150-year-old units on Llandudno Pier have been destroyed by Storm Darragh.

Winds of up to 93mph were recorded overnight in Capel Curig in North Wales, with 92mph in Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula and gusts in other parts of the country topping 80mph.

Dyfed-Powys Police also said it had experienced high volumes of calls about fallen trees and poor driving conditions.