A taxi passenger who was injured when a tree crashed into a cab during a freak storm had a very lucky escape, her husband has said.
June Stephenson, 57, was in the back of a taxi in Hull waiting for her husband Martin to get in when a tree fell on to the vehicle during a sudden burst of extreme weather the couple said was "like a tornado".
The damage in Hull was one of a number of flooding and wind-related incidents yesterday as the effects of ex-Hurricane Bertha moved across England and Wales.
Stormy conditions are set to continue today as driving rain and winds of up to 50mph sweep northern England and Scotland.
Weather warnings have been issued urging caution.
Mrs Stephenson suffered minor injuries to her arms and face in the incident in Hopewell Road, in Hull, which left a trail of uprooted trees, damaged roofs and flooding.
Her husband said they were just preparing to go out for a family celebration when the winds suddenly whipped up.
"We rang for a taxi," Mr Stephenson, 55, said.
"It was raining at the time and she ran to the car.
"We were going to meet my daughter for her anniversary. It was very windy but, as I locked the back door I could see there were some panels flying about and the sound of the wind changed.
"I came round the front to see the car was buried by the three trees.
"The wife was in the car and I didn't actually know what had happened."
Mr Stephenson said his wife went back to hospital today to have glass removed from her arm.
He said: "It had come and gone in a matter of 15 or 20 seconds. It was all over with.
"As she was getting in, just as she shut the door, the tree's actually come down on top of her, on top of the car."
Mr Stephenson said the taxi driver, a friend of his, was trapped inside but was not injured.
"It's very, very, lucky," he said.
"We've never had this before. I've seen it windy before, I've seen these (trees) what was there, I've seen them bend and sway but they've just got snapped off, just straight across the road to the car - powerful. very powerful."
Mr Stephenson said: "It was like a tornado."
His wife told the Hull Daily Mail: "It doesn't bear thinking about what would have happened if I had been facing the other way."
Weather warnings have been issued as the effects of Bertha continue.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said crews dealt with a number of flooding incidents in the Filey area last night.
A pump was brought in from Scarborough after water levels overwhelmed the on-site pumping facilities at the Primrose Valley holiday park.
A spokesman said around 22 properties were affected by flooding at the nearby village of Hunmanby Gap.
Crews from Scarborough and Filey used a range of pumps to reduce water levels, he said.
While Wales and many parts of England were left drenched yesterday, it was the turn of northern parts to endure the unpleasant conditions today.
By early this morning, the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, had recorded almost a month's rainfall in 12 hours, while Aberdeenshire saw gusts of 50mph.
The Environment Agency issued six flood warnings, indicating flooding is expected, and 47 flood alerts across England and Wales, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had 12 flood alerts in place.
While parts of England and Wales are under Met Office warnings for rain and wind, forecaster Emma Corrigan said it is likely to clear up as the storm continues its course.
"It is expected to be a much drier day for southern parts but we'll still see some scattered showers in the west, although these will spread eastwards as the day moves on," she said.
"It is expected to feel quite cool, with temperatures in the mid to high teens. It could reach around 21C in the South East but with blustery winds it will feel a little cooler than that."
In Scotland, motorists have been warned to expect disruption and Transport Scotland - alongside its partners, including the local authorities, Sepa and Police Scotland - said it is monitoring the situation closely to ensure they are well prepared for the conditions.
Traffic Scotland operator manager Stein Connelly said drivers in parts of the North East and Highlands and Islands are likely to face difficult road conditions due to heavy rain.
He said: "We would advise people in these areas to prepare for some travel disruption and to allow extra time for their journeys. They should also check the relevant websites for up-to-date travel information."
The Met Office said people should be prepared for some disruption to transport, with localised flooding likely.
It said outdoor activities will also be hazardous due to heavy rain combined with strong winds.
Police Scotland said: "There is a possibility of flooding in low-lying land, roads and to rivers...
"Police are asking that the public allow extra time for travel and, if driving, to be aware of possible flooding."
Ms Corrigan said a return to the sunshine and heat of earlier this summer does not look likely soon.
"Towards the end of the week we will see calmer, more settled conditions but temperatures will on average stay on the cooler side," she said.
"There is no real indication of a return to the hot conditions we've seen."
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/weather-warnings-amid-rain-wind-045421158.html
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