Heavy storms lash the British Isles

The United Kingdom has been battered by strong winds and heavy rains that left as many as 100,000 people without power, mostly in southern England and Scotland.

Scotland saw the worst of the winds on Tuesday. Edinburgh reported a gust of wind of 164kph, making driving conditions hazardous. The strong winds forced the closure of many bridges, including the famous Forth Road Bridge which connects the capital Edinburgh to Fife across the Firth of Forth.

Edinburgh airport closed to incoming aircraft, and many departing flights were either canceled or delayed. Many ferry links around the UK were suspended, including routes across the English Channel.

The winds are still strong for the UK, but the worst is apparently over. The storm is heading east over northern Europe, where winds will remain strong for the remainder of Wednesday.

Following the storm, a cold blast will affect many parts of Europe. There is a warning that up to 80cm of fresh snow could fall across western Austria on Thursday. The icy blast will be a shock after the recent mild weather that many parts have enjoyed over the past month.