Gale-force winds and heavy rain lashed Scotland, northern England and Wales Saturday, flooding scores of communities and halting land and sea traffic.
Nearly 100 flood warnings were issued as winds of more than 100 mph closed highways and isolated low-lying areas, Sky News reported.
Residents of Appleby, Longtown and Shap evacuated their homes in case the River Eden burst its banks, and Carlisle's city center was submerged, and 40 people were evacuated to a village school in Northumberland.
Officials said the weather was the most severe in four decades.
More than 10 trucks were blown off the M6 highway, and a ferry off the west coast of Scotland ran aground.
About 100 people on board the P&O European Highlander, which ran aground on Loch Ryan sandbar, were reported safe. Tugboats and a rescue helicopter were standing by to help, once the high winds died down.
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