LONDON — A major storm with hurricane-force gusts lashed southern Britain, the Netherlands, France and Germany on Monday, knocking down trees, flooding low areas and causing travel chaos. Seven deaths were reported.
Weather forecasters say it was one of the worst storms to hit Britain in years. Gusts of 99 miles per hour were reported on the Isle of Wight in southern England, while gusts up to 80 mph hit the U.K. mainland.
UK Power Networks officials said up to 270,000 homes were without power. Flood alerts were issued for many parts of southern England and emergency officials said hundreds of trees were knocked down by gusts.
London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest, cancelled at least 130 flights and express trains between central London and Gatwick and Stansted airports were suspended. Huge waves prompted the major English port of Dover to close, cutting off ferry services to France.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.