LONDON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A fierce storm hit the British Isles, bringing 100 mph winds to Scotland as it headed south Thursday.
At least two deaths were reported, one in Scotland and the other in the English Midlands.
Forecasters said coastal surges in England could be as high as those in the devastating storm of 1953, the BBC reported. The Thames Barrier, downriver from central London, was closed in an effort to limit flooding in the British capital.
The storm hit Scotland hard, the Guardian reported. A truck driver was killed in the Edinburgh area when his vehicle was blown over by the wind, landing on two cars.
Transport Scotland, in a red warning, said the highways are unsafe for travel and told residents to stay off the roads.
All train service in Scotland was shut down. Glasgow Central Station was evacuated after wind-blown debris broke part of the building's glass roof.
"Network Rail has shut the entire network due to debris on the line including trees and garden trampolines and as a result none of our services are running," a spokesman said.
In England, two planes had to abort landings at Birmingham, the BBC said. A man on a mobility scooter died in Kings Park in Retford, Nottinghamshire, when he was hit by a downed tree.
At least 100,000 homes and businesses lost power in Scotland, the Guardian said. Power outages were also reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
