Storm Darragh Triggers Widespread Cancellations and Disruptions Across East of England

Strong winds from Storm Darragh, impacting the East of England, have led to the cancellation of numerous events. The Met Office had previously issued a yellow wind warning for the entire United Kingdom, effective from 15:00 GMT on Friday until 06:00 on Sunday. The QEII Bridge’s southbound lanes at the Dartford Crossing, connecting Essex to Kent, were temporarily closed because of high winds before reopening later in the afternoon. Despite the reopening, National Highways cautioned motorists about potential extensive delays in both directions. Separately, National Rail advised passengers to verify their travel plans prior to departure. CrossCountry’s services between Cambridge and Stansted Airport have been called off. A flood warning has been issued by the government for the River Nene in Cambridgeshire, specifically at North Bank Road, located east of Peterborough. Authorities stated that the road would stay closed for the duration of the warning. Within Cambridgeshire, the East Cambridgeshire District Council has also implemented its severe weather emergency protocol to provide assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness over the weekend amidst the storm. Several events throughout the eastern region have been either postponed or cancelled due to safety considerations. Organizers of the Frinton Christmas Festival called off Saturday’s event after receiving safety guidance from Tendring District Council. In another part of the region, Fenland District Council cancelled the Wisbech Christmas Fayre, which was scheduled for Sunday. The council announced on social media: “The Met Office is currently forecasting gusts of 53mph throughout the day. “The temporary structures such as gazebos will not withstand winds of this force.” To the north, Colchester United’s League Two fixture against Notts County was postponed because of damage to a scoreboard at Meadow Lane. In Norfolk, the Sandringham Estate cancelled its Luminate Winter Trail scheduled for Saturday evening. The estate communicated via Facebook that customers had the option to transfer their tickets to an alternative date and time, requesting patience while inquiries were being processed. For updates on East of England news, follow BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk on X, Instagram and Facebook. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.