23 December 2013
People are being advised to avoid all but essential travel as severe weather disrupts the Christmas getaway.
The Met Office issued amber alerts and 140 flood warning were in place as torrential rain and gale-force winds battered western parts of the UK.
A number of train companies reported reduced or cancelled services and the AA warned road disruption was likely.
The weather has left thousands of homes in Berkshire and south-west England without power.
The worst hit areas include:
Some 3,000 Western Power Distribution customers in Cornwall and a further 2,000 in other parts of the South West left without electricity.
Nearly 9,000 homes in Berkshire have been without power during Monday, with 7,000 still without power in the Bracknell area, Southern Electric has said
Northern Ireland will face some of the worst weather in the UK on Christmas Eve, with warnings of winds of up to 90mph
Forecasters have warned of 80mph winds in Wales and possible flooding
There was localised flooding in Penrith, with some routes in the town blocked due to floodwater
In London, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is closed on Monday, but will open as planned on Tuesday
The Met Office has amber warnings for wind now in place for a number of areas on Christmas Eve, including Northern Ireland, the east of England, London and the South East, and north-west Scotland.
The amber warnings for wind in southern parts of England are valid from midnight to 06:00 GMT and from 16:00 GMT in Scotland.
Gusts could reach 75mph inland and 85mph along exposed coasts in the south of England and up to 90mph in Scotland, the Met Office said.
It said the public should be prepared for travel disruption and interruptions to power supplies.
And there are also amber warnings for rain in Wales, south-west England and London and the South East on Christmas Eve.
BBC weather forecaster Nick Miller said that a rapidly deepening area of low pressure was pushing more stormy weather across the UK, including a heightened risk of flooding.
Chris Burton, from weather forecaster MeteoGroup, said up to 2in (50mm) of rain was expected to fall across southern areas of England, the Midlands and Wales.
BBC weather forecaster Louise Lear said conditions would ease off for Christmas Day and Boxing Day before returning with a "serious storm" on Friday.
