Friday the 13th proved unlucky for commuters, train schedulers and anyone
with loose slates on their roof as torrential rain and gale force winds
hit Britain.
Severe weather warnings are in place across the south and west, and
flood warnings are expected to be issued in many areas by this evening
when the Met Office is predicting the weather will get even worse.
Trains between Newport and Gloucester, and cross-country trains from Cardiff
to Nottingham, were cancelled after more than a tonne of rubble, loosened in
the downpours, slid on to the tracks near Chepstow in south-east
Wales. Travellers have been advised to check for cancellations and
bus replacements before setting out.
In many places the downpours will last into tomorrow, with up to 40mm of
rain, and the forecast is for gale gusts of up to 40mph across London and
up to 70mph in parts of Wales enough to bring down branches and trees.