Storm Ali - LIVE: Two dead and 'major incident' declared as winds of up to 100mph batter UK and Ireland
Woman dies after caravan blown off cliff and man killed by fallen tree
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Two people have been killed as Storm Ali batters the UK and Ireland with as torrential rain and winds of up to 100ph.
In County Galway, Ireland, a woman in her 50s died after the caravan she was in was blown off a cliff by the storm.
A water company engineer was killed by a falling tree while working in a park in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Forecasters had warned of a “danger to life” with the possibility of flying debris and damage to buildings. Gusts of wind have reached 100mph, said the Met Office said, which issued yellow and amber warnings covering Northern Ireland, Scotland, northwest Wales and the north of England.
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The worst of Ali’s weather was forecast to be in the north, although areas outside the official weather warnings did not escape wet and windy conditions.
The unsettled weather is due to last right through the week, but an improvement is expected early next week as drier weather is set to take hold.
Ali is the first named storm of the 2018 season. If you want to know how the name came about and what names are available for subsequent storms, we have you covered.
This is the scene in one coastal town in west Scotland.
Sand is blown in the wind as Storm Ali hits land on 19 September in Saltcoats, Scotland. Severe gales up to 80mph are causing road, rail and ferry travel disruption as Storm Ali hits parts of Scotland (Getty)
Several rail services in Scotland are being disrupted by Storm Ali, according to officials. Trees and other debris are blocking tracks between Glasgow and a series of destinations.
Sussex Wildlifr Trust's Woods Mill nature reserve has been closed due to Storm Ali's high winds, the body announced.
An update on the travel situation in Scotland - significant disruption is being reported including a derailed train near Culloden.
One region, Dumfries and Galloway, has declared a "major incident" due to storm damage.
Rail, roads and ferry services have all been affected by the severe weather conditions.
A Met Office spokesman said winds of up to 80mph were expected on parts of the western coast, while inland will see gales of between 65mph and 75mph.
Dundrennan, in Dumfries and Galloway, has had gusts reaching 77 mph.
All vehicles and pedestrians have been stopped from using the Forth Road Bridge, while the Queensferry Crossing has been shut to high-sided vehicles including double-decker buses.
Restrictions were also put in place on the Skye Bridge due to strong gales.
At about 10am part of the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway, near the Collin bypass, was blocked for an hour due to a fallen tree.
Dumfries and Galloway Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST) reported that similar incidents had occurred across the region.
The Highland main line was shut by rail operators after a freight train was derailed during high winds.
At about 1.40am a northbound service struck tree branches and left the track near Culloden.
No trains are running between Inverness and Perth but ScotRail said they expect the line to reopen in the early afternoon.
A spokesman said: "Specialist engineers and lifting equipment are on their way to the site and we will re-rail the engine and reopen the line as soon as possible."
Some bus services have also been suspended due to the weather.
Additional reporting by PA
UK coastguard officers have warned people not to put themselves in harm's way by trying to film or take pictures of Storm Ali.
Kevin Halpin in Dublin captured a leaf blower on video refusing to deterred by Storm Ali!
A remarkable fact from Utility Alliance that Storm Ali is currently helping to provide 23 per cent of the UK's electricity demand!
Gusts have broken the 90mph mark in Scotland as major disruption continues.
Rail, roads and ferry services have all been affected by the severe weather conditions.
The Forth Road Bridge, Clackmannanshire Bridge, Queensferry Crossing have put restrictions in place, while the Tay Road Bridge is shut to all traffic having recorded winds of nearly 92mph.
Tug boats had to be called to the Nautica vessel which slipped its berth in Greenock, Scotland.
Strong winds saw the vessel - which had 478 passengers and 26 crew - leave the dock after its mooring lines parted.
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