Storm Henk lashes large parts of UK, causing power outages, transport disruptions and flooding

Storm Henk has unleashed severe weather conditions across substantial areas of England and Wales, bringing heavy rain and powerful winds that resulted in power outages, transportation disruptions, and flooding. With over 300 flood warnings across England, travellers are grappling with delays and transportation challenges. The impact of Storm Henk has particularly affected train services, leading to difficulties in restoring normal operations. Multiple rail companies issued advisories urging people to avoid travel, as the network faced obstacles such as fallen trees and power failures. As of Wednesday, the Environment Agency reported 368 active alerts in England, including 322 flood warnings indicating expected flooding and one severe flood warning posing a danger to life in Northampton. Great Western Railway highlighted several instances of flooding that disrupted parts of its network. In Gloucestershire near Chipping Sodbury, flooding prompted the closure of all lines between Swindon and Bristol Parkway. Train services between London Paddington and South Wales are undergoing diversions, resulting in approximately 40 minutes of additional travel time. Flooding has led to the closure of the route between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall, and certain lines are shut down between Totnes and Plymouth in Devon. Greater Anglia has reported severe disruptions to train services during the late hours of Tuesday night, with multiple incidents impacting operations across the network. The Environment Agency has issued 333 flood warnings across England, including a severe warning for the River Nene near the east of Northampton. In response to the flooding threat, hundreds of individuals have been evacuated from a nearby holiday park. The Environment Agency has cautioned about a “danger to life” in the area, emphasizing the presence of “deep and fast-flowing water and a rapid onset of flooding.” A woman in Orpington, south-east London, was hospitalized after being hit by a falling tree, with injuries assessed as non-life-threatening. As the storm traversed from west to east, it caused considerable disruption across extensive areas of Wales and England. Coastal regions, particularly in southern England, experienced rough seas, and road users encountered obstacles such as fallen trees and hazardous conditions. According to the Energy Networks Association (ENA), which compiles data from all energy providers, approximately 38,000 customers were without power as of 19:00 GMT on Tuesday due to storm-related damage.