Storm Darragh has unleashed chaos across the UK, with ferocious gusts hitting a staggering 93mph. National Highways disclosed a slew of main roads and bridges now shuttered amidst escalating safety fears.

Holed up indoors, millions heed stark warnings, while power cuts plague thousands and rail services grind to a halt – all underscored by the Government’s stark “risk to life” decree.

Activated at the stroke of 1am on Saturday, an unprecedented emergency bulletin reached residents in the Met Office‘s red warning zone, spanning parts of Wales and south-west England. This record-breaking use of the alert system drove home a clear message – dodge driving and “stay indoors if you can”.

National Highways is on high alert, confirming extensive road closures. The blocked arteries of travel include:

• M4 – Prince of Wales Bridge – Bridge Closed in both directions due to strong winds. “Road users travelling to Wales will need to follow the M5 and M50 due to the M48 Severn Bridge also being closed due to strong winds. Our South West Regional Operations Centre are monitoring the wind speeds and will reopen the bridge as soon as the wind speeds reduce to a safe level.”
• A66 between North Yorkshire (A1M) and Cumbria (M6) closed: “in both directions due to strong winds resulting from Storm Darragh. Road users travelling across the Pennines are advised to plan ahead and consider alternate routes such as the A69.”
• M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire is closed in both directions between J1 (Aust) and J2 (Chepstow) due to strong winds. “Road users travelling to Wales will need to follow the M5 and M50 due to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge also being closed due to strong winds. Our South West Regional Operations Centre are monitoring the wind speeds and will reopen the bridge as soon as the wind speeds reduce to a safe level.”
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• A34 in Hampshire is closed in both directions between the M3 J9 and the A272 (Three Maids Hill) for emergency works. “These works are to allow for the safe removal of a number of trees alongside both carriageways. The tree’s have been identified as being at risk of falling during the forecasted strong winds linked with Storm Darragh. The closure is expected to remain in place throughout the weekend.”
• A5 is closed in both directions between B5070 (Gledrid) and A483 (Halton) “This is due to the Ceiriog viaduct being exposed and the strong winds causing a risk to road users.”
• A282 southbound QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing is closed “All traffic wishing to travel southbound/clockwise on the M25 is being diverted through the east bore tunnel. Northbound crossing traffic is being confined to using the west bore Dartford tunnel only with a height restriction of 4’8m (15’9”). Vehicles over this height will have to seek an alternative route via the clockwise M25.”

But it’s not just major routes feeling the storm’s wrath; numerous minor incidents have led to additional closures – for real-time updates on these, click here.

An amber alarm for devastating winds batters both the South West and North West, extending from 1am to a relentless 9pm today. Travellers are urged by National Highways to check ahead, bracing for significant journey disruptions, as coastal areas brace for howling gales of 60-70 mph ravaging Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall coastlines.

The UK is bracing for a battering as strong winds are set to sweep across the country this weekend. Meteorologists predict 50-60 mph winds along the southern coasts on Saturday, increasing to 60-65 mph down the east coast in the early hours of Sunday.

Persistent winds of 40-45mph are expected across the network throughout Sunday, gradually easing from the west. The most affected routes are likely to be northern Somerset M5 (Burnham-on-Sea to Avonmouth bridge), A30 Cornwall and Bodmin, A35 Lyme Regis.

M56 J10-J14, M6 Cheshire and Thelwell Viaduct, A595, A590, M62 J22. High sided vehicles, caravans, motorbikes and other vulnerable vehicles are advised to take extra care when travelling due to the increased risk.

Speaking to Sky News, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the storm as a “challenging situation”. He said: “About three million homes will have had the emergency alert system to their mobile phone. I would just encourage anyone who has had that to follow the advice.”

He added: “Where you can, stay inside, don’t put yourself at risk, and just follow the advice at all times.”

Tom Morgan of the Met Office confirmed that as of 7am the storm was at its peak, but higher wind speed totals are “possible” later in the morning.

The centre of the storm, where winds are calmer, was across north-east England. Thousands of people in Northern Ireland, England and Wales were left without power.

The Energy Networks Association has reported that approximately 86,000 homes across England, Scotland and Wales were without power as of 9am. They further revealed that around 385,000 customers had their power restored overnight, with over 1,000 engineers on standby for deployment.