Storm Henk LIVE: Woman crushed by tree and holiday park evacuated as 100mph wind leaves commuters stranded

The Energy Networks Association says around 102,600 customers have been reconnected after power cuts today, but nearly 40,000 are still without power due to storm damage.

Ross Easton, a spokesperson for the group, which collates data from all energy providers, said “intensive winds” which were “higher than originally forecast” mean repairs have been needed to electricity infrastructure.

The Met Office has forecast sunshine, blustery showers and strong winds across parts of the UK tomorrow, as Storm Henk is set to subside.

“Wednesday will see sunshine and blustery showers in the west with more persistent rain for northeast Scotland. Strong winds for southern England and northeastern Scottish coasts,” the forecaster said on X.

“Mild for the time of year but might see some morning frost in the northeast,” it added.

A car drives through a flooded road in Eardisland, Herefordshire, as Storm Henk batters much of southern England and Wales with heavy rain and strong winds.

Coastal areas could see gusts of 70-80mph on Tuesday 2 January, while inland areas could see 50-60mph winds as the storm, named by the Met Office, sweeps across the country.

Forecasters said there is a good chance that power cuts could occur, with probable damage to buildings, travel disruption and a chance of injury or loss of life from flying debris.

Storm Henk has ripped through parts of the UK with near-100mph winds and flash floods, leaving commuters stranded and a woman in hospital after being crushed by a falling tree, Maryam Zakir-Hussain reports.

Londoners were warned not to leave their homes unless necessary on Tuesday night as winds from the first named storm of 2024 wreaked havoc in the capital and south of England.

Commuters were left stranded as Thameslink and South Western Railway issued do not travel warnings, Dover warned of ferry cancellations and Heathrow grounded flights after a plane was filmed swaying in the strong winds while landing.

The British Army’s newest Apache helicopter has been blown over by strong winds as Storm Henk battered parts of southern Britain.

The Apache AH-64E attack helicopter, which can cost around £412million, was pictured lying on its side next to emergency workers and a fire engine on an airfield in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.

It is understood no one was injured during the incident, and that all other aircraft remained undamaged. In October, the aircraft was declared “ready for front line duty”.

The UK’s busiest airport, London Heathrow, has experienced gusts of 60mph during Storm Henk – leading to diversions, delays and cancellations, The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports.

A Cathay Pacific aircraft from Hong Kong landed at London Gatwick, while a British Airways flight from Aberdeen touched down in Manchester before flying on to Heathrow several hours late.

Many flights are heavily delayed, with one-to-two hours being the norm for early evening. BA has flights with five-hour delays from Abuja and Hyderabad, though they are unconnected with the bad weather.

British Airways has made 30 cancellations to and from London Heathrow, all of them short-haul flight. Two round-trips serving Amsterdam, Belfast City, Edinburgh and Glasgow were grounded.

At London City, British Airways cancelled two return trips to Rotterdam and single rotations to Amsterdam and Glasgow.

Elsewhere, a Turkish Airlines plane from Istanbul was cleared to land at the Sussex airport, but made a “go around” – the pilots decided not to touch down, and instead went into a holding pattern before diverting to Stansted.