Gales of up to 78 mph force closures, power cuts and travel disruption across England and Wales

Strong winds with gusts up to 78 mph swept across parts of England and Wales on Monday, prompting a 26-hour Met Office yellow wind warning, closures of parks and attractions, bridge and road restrictions and local power outages.

The warning, which came into force at 8 p.m. on Sunday and runs until 6 p.m. on Monday, covers most of England and Wales. The highest gusts recorded overnight reached 78 mph at the Needles on the Isle of Wight and 66 mph at Aberdaron in Gwynedd, North Wales. The Met Office said many areas could see typical gusts of 45 to 55 mph, with exposed locations liable to peak near 70 mph.

Transport operators reported multiple disruptions. The M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions, and the A628 Woodhead Pass through the Peak District was shut to high-sided vehicles. Fallen trees blocked rail services on Southeastern between Dartford and Hither Green, on Transport for Wales between Tondu and Maesteg, and on South Western Railway between Hamble and Bursledon. Transport for Wales also closed the line between Swansea and Llanwrtyd for the whole day with buses replacing trains.

Around 150 properties in Chagford, Devon, lost power after the winds pushed inland from coastal areas in the south-west. Operators warned of short-term interruptions to electricity supplies and of likely travel delays and large waves along coasts.

Public attractions closed or restricted access as a safety measure. Kew Gardens in London announced it would shut from 1 p.m. while Whipsnade Zoo and Dartmoor Zoo closed for the day. Royal Parks said vulnerable areas, including the children's playground at Hyde Park, were shut and urged visitors not to shelter under trees. Woodland areas, some National Trust sites and the Hampstead Heath bathing ponds were also closed in affected areas.

Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said the system was expected to cause "low impacts in general" but warned of potential brief power interruptions and travel disruption during the Monday morning peak. He said gales were possible across much of England and Wales and that "perhaps even severe gales" could affect Irish Sea coasts, with the strongest winds concentrated in west Wales and north-west England during the morning. The remainder of the day was forecast to bring a mixture of sunny spells and heavy blustery showers.

Forecasters said the winds would ease slowly from the west later in the afternoon and into the evening. They also noted that ground conditions have been wetter in recent weeks and that further rain and wind later in the week could increase the risk of surface water and localized flooding toward midweek.

Authorities urged the public to secure loose items outdoors, check before travel and avoid coastal promenades during the worst of the winds. The Met Office confirmed the season's first named storm is expected to be called Amy, but said this particular system did not meet its criteria for naming.

Rail and road operators advised passengers to check service updates before travelling, and several sites said they would review reopening once the warning expired and safety assessments were complete. Emergency services and local authorities remained on alert and monitored reports of fallen trees and infrastructure damage as teams worked to restore services and clear affected routes.