Hurricane Arwen caused disruption across the UK, causing power outages and severe travel delays (Photo: Backgrid/PA/Eamon & James Clark)
Britain felt the full force of Hurricane Arwen with gusts of about 100 mph in some parts of the country.
A father of four has died in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, after a tree was blown away by strong winds and fell on his car.
Buildings were damaged across the country, with gusts reaching 98 mph at Brizzley Wood in Northumberland.
The storm was so worrying that the Meteorological Department issued a rare red weather warning for the northeastern coastal areas.
Although the warning ended this morning, orange and yellow wind warnings continue across the country.
The first victim of Storm Arwen has since been named director Francis Lagan, who is believed to be in his 40s.
It is being told that he was traveling with his wife and children when a tree hit his car.
Brickwork overturned and fell on a car in Roker in Sunderland as strong winds blew through Britain (Photo: PA)
A truck overturned by high winds stops the A179 near Hartlepool, County Durham (Photo: PA)
A woman confronts last night’s gloomy weather as she walks through Manchester city center (Photo: Eamon and James Clark)
Paying tribute on Facebook, local sports club Wattie Graham, Ann Glen, said: “A great club man, coach, manager, collaborator, mentor, friend but most importantly a son, a brother, a husband and a Wonderful dad.
“As a club and community, we will continue to stay strong with the Lagaan family in the days, weeks and months to come. ,
Wind speeds reached 87 mph in Orlock Head, County Down, 78 mph in Inverbury, North East Scotland, and 77 mph in Aberporth, Wales.
Roads were blocked by fallen debris in the worst-affected areas of Scotland, while LNER rail services north of Newcastle were also disrupted, with strong winds, heavy rain and snowfall since Friday afternoon.
The Met Office has warned that the north-east of England, the north-west of England, Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the East Midlands will experience cold weather until Monday.
Buildings and vehicles were damaged by the Atlantic hurricane that swept across the country (Photo: PA)
Hurricane Arwen flies a caravan through a garden in Dundee, Scotland (Photo: Backgrid)
A tree falls on a car in Walsee Village, Viral (Photo: Backgrid)
The Premiership rugby union match between the Newcastle Falcons and Worcester Warriors has been postponed until Saturday night for security reasons.
And in North Wales, ITV was forced to pre-record Friday Night Live episodes of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Amid concerns, which included inclement weather, would interfere with broadcasts around Gwrych Castle.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said it suffered “major” incidents on Friday evening, “due to prevailing weather conditions, including several fallen trees and torn roofs from structures”.
Meanwhile, Scottish services between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street, Dunblane and Stirling were cut when a barn on the line was blown up near Falkirk, near Polmont.
The Met Office described the situation as “terrible” and people also reported power cuts.
MORE: Weather
Northern PowerGrid said the strong thunderstorms caused blackouts for more than 55,000 customers, mostly in the Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear areas.
Images showed strong winds were blowing in the North Sea in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, and snow fell in Redcar, Yorkshire and Whitley Bay, Northumberland, among other places.
Northwest Highway Police said about 120 trucks on the M62 at junctions 21 and 22 were “stuck in the snow” and urged motorists to avoid the area.
Tweeting pictures of the highway covered in white, he said snow plows were deployed.
A Meteorological Department statement said: “People should stay away from the coast as the waves and debris are life-threatening.”
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