FRESH weather warnings covering the next 72 hours have been issued by the Met Office.

A yellow warning for snow and ice tonight is valid until 11am on Sunday. Widespread gales are also expected, with gusts up to 80mph being forecast, with warnings in place until Tuesday morning.

Today forecasters say there will be frequent wintry showers, some heavy at times, across the north of the UK including Cumbria.

Localised snowfall of around 2-5 cm is possible, primarily above 100 metres.

Yesterday power was lost to 234 homes and businesses at about 7.30am after severe gales caused a fault on the overhead power lines near Aspatria.

In Kirkby Stephen 68 customers were left in darkness at 5am because severe gales damaged the overhead line. They were back on at about 10am. 

Electricity North West is prepared for the weather and has engineers on standby and extra call centre staff to help keep the lights on. 

The power operator said it will continue to closely monitor the weather as power outages can be caused by fallen trees and flying debris damaging overhead power lines, which also make it difficult for engineers to climb.

Chris Fox, systems manager for Electricity North West, said: “We are closely monitoring the weather and we’ve taken extra measures to get ready in case severe weather hits our region.

“I want to reassure our customers that we are on hand and we’re doing everything we can to protect the network.

“We are here 24 hours day seven days a week so please contact us if you need any advice or information.”

A lorry was blown over on the M6 near Shap and trains have been forced to slow down due to winds and flooding. 

Emergency services were called to the M6 north of Shap at about 8.10am after a lorry was blown onto the grass verge next to the hard shoulder.

The driver, a 50-year-old male from North Walsham, was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle as a precaution.

Today there are delays to rail services through Carlisle due to signalling problems and a landslip between Carlisle and Penrith.

Speed restrictions are also in place on the West Coast Main Line and the Settle-Carlisle line.

National Rail said: "Disruption is expected over various routes during this period of bad weather."

The Met Office is warning people that travel plans could be affected.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Be prepared for the likelihood of difficult driving conditions and disruption to travel, such as cancellation to ferry services and bridge closures. 

"Some structural damage is also possible, as well as disruption to power supplies. Heavy rain and surface water will be additional hazards in places."

Although a warning of rain is no longer in force the Environment Agency has issued a flood warnings for Keswick Campsite.

Flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible, be prepared - have been issued for:

  • Lower River Eden 
  • Rivers Cocker, Marron and Derwent 
  • Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwent Water 
  • Rivers Greta, St Johns Beck and Bassenthwaite Lake 
  • Rivers Lowther and Eamont.