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ADVANCE WEATHER WARNING The Met Office has issued yellow severe weather warnings this weekend for Northern Ireland, south Scotland and west England & Wales, named Storm Kathleen.

STORM KATHLEEN Storm Kathleen may bring difficult driving conditions, with gusts of up to 80km/h expected, affecting motorists travelling during the Easter school holidays.

STORM KATHLEEN Heavy rain is also expected, especially over north-east England, and minor flooding is possible.

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Travel news for Essex

• Published 5 December 2011

For the latest information on the situation on the roads and railways visit the BBC's local travel news page for Essex.

On the roads you can view live incidents , traffic jam cameras and roadworks .

While on public transport you can view current disruptions and engineering works.

Alternatively, for regular travel updates listen live to BBC Essex.

Below are a number of other traffic information sources.

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• - Long delays on the M25 and A13 as Dartford Crossing is closed

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London travel news LIVE: Major traffic jams as Dartford Crossing and M25 at Godstone reopen after crashes

LIVE – Updated at 21:39

The M25 in Surrey was completely closed anticlockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link) due to a serious crash, with around five-mile tailbacks throughout most of Thursday.

The road has since reopened but National Highways South-East warned motorists faced 90-minute delays following the incident.

Elsewhere on the M25 there were big tailbacks after the Dartford tunnel was closed on Thursday due to a crash.

Travellers faced hour-long delays once it reopened.

Meanwhile, rail passengers were warned they faced reduced services on Thursday as train drivers begin an overtime ban ahead of a series of fresh strikes.

The overtime ban is from Thursday to Saturday and for 48 hours from next Monday which is likely to cause delays and cancellations to services.

“Plan your journey and check your first and last train times.” National Rail warned.

For the latest travel updates please scroll down.

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The Evening Standard’s live blog has ended.

Read the latest stories from the Standard here .

Pedestrian in his 60s dies after being hit by van on North Circular

A pedestrian has died after a collision with a van on the  North Circular .

Police  were called to a collision between a van and a man believed to be in his 60s on the A406 Angel Road Flyover,  Edmonton , at around 2.15pm on Thursday.

Officers attended alongside the  London Ambulance Service .

Read the full story here .

Crash causes 30 minute delays by Blackwell Tunnel

There a long delays due to a crash on the approach to the Blackwall Tunnel.

Congestion has reached Bow Roundabout and it is taking around 30 minutes to get through the area.

Severe delays on the North Circular

The North Circular is blocked and there are severe delays due to “crash investigation work”.

The incident took place on the A406 North Circular Westbound at Angel Road (Kenninghall Interchange). 

There is congestion back to Woodford.

Further delays on M25

There are long delays due to earlier crash on M25 clockwise before J1B A296 Princes Road (Dartford), with congestion to J30 (Lakeside / Tilbury).

All lanes have been reopened but travel time is about 30 minutes.

Dartford Crossing reopens after temporary closure following 'multi-vehicle crash'

The Dartford Crossing was partially closed this afternoon after a "multiple vehicle" crash.

Traffic was held on the approach in Dartford between junction 1B on the M25 and the tunnels to install tunnel closure.

The tunnel has since been reopened but delays coming into Essex remain.

A National Highways spokesman said: "The vehicles involved in the earlier multiple vehicle collision on the A282 Dartford East Tunnel have now been recovered from the scene.

"All lanes and the east tunnel have been reopened with residual delays of up to 60 minutes on the approach."

Dartford tunnel clear but delays remain

A crash took place on the M25 Dartford Tunnel anti-clockwise from J1A A206 (Dartford) to J31 A1306 (Lakeside / Purfleet).

The road is now clear but there are still delays of up to 45 minutes.

Minor delays on Piccadilly Line

There are currently minor delays between Acton Town and Heathrow Airport due to train cancellations. Good service on the rest of the line.

Some lanes on M25 reopen

The M25 in Surrey has been reopened anti-clockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link).

Lanes one and two (of four) remain closed for ongoing Police investigation work and barrier repairs.

But delays of up to 90 minutes still remain on the approach.

Minor delays to Central line

There are currently delays between Loughton and Epping due to an earlier customer incident at Debden - goos service on the rest of the line.

M25 tailbacks now around five miles

There have been no new announcements about the congestion on the M25 but traffic monitoring site Inrix shows that around three miles of tailbacks seem to have cleared on one side of the closure.

National Highways South East is still reporting up to 90-minute waits on approach.

Minor delay to Piccadilly line

Minor delays between Uxbridge and Acton Town, eastbound only - good service on the rest of the line.

Minor delays to Metropolitan line

There are currently delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge due to train cancellations - good service on the rest of the line.

Island Line and South Western Railway affected by Aslef strike

Today and on Friday 5 April, Saturday 6 and Tuesday 9 April

A revised timetable will operate, with reductions to some services.

Services may also be subject to late notice cancellations, so please check your journey before you set off.

On Saturday, engineering work may impact your journey.

Gatwick Express not running today

Today and on Friday 5, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 April, the usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton will not operate.Gatwick Express have added extra stops at Clapham Junction and East Croydon, and as such these trains will be operating as Southern services. Gatwick Express tickets will be valid on Southern and Thameslink at no additional cost.

The line plans to run its usual Saturday and Sunday services this weekend.

More on the M25 crash

Surrey Police said the crash involved a black Vauxhall Astra.

The force advised drivers to try and find alternative routes.

It also asked those who witnessed the crash to get in touch.

Bakerloo line no longer delayed

The Bakerloo line has returned to running a good service.

More delays on M25

There are currently long delays on all approaches to J28 of the M25 (A12) as there appears to be a fault with the traffic lights on BrookStreet roundabout.

Engineers are on their way to investigate the issue.

Hammersmith and City line no longer delayed

The Hammersmith and City line has returned to running a good service.

Up to 90-minute delays on M25 in Surrey

You could be waiting up to 90 minutes on approach on the M25 in Surrey, between J6 (Godstone) and J5, after a crash earlier this morning.

Bakerloo line part suspended again

There is currently no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone due to power supply failure - good service on the rest of the line

Minor delays to Hammersmith and City line

The delays to the Hammersmith and City line did clear up, but now they have started again - because of an earlier faulty train.

Bakerloo suspended

There is currently no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow and Wealdstone due to a power supply failure - good service on the rest of the line.

London Overground part suspended

There is currently no service between Willesden Junction and Watford Junction due to power supply failure at Hatch end - good service on other routes.

There are minor delays due to a earlier faulty train.

Diversion route for M25 closure

Drivers are advised to follow the Hollow Square diversion symbol on road signs.

• Exit the M25 at J6 then at the Godstone Interchange take the 3rd exit onto the A22 towards East Grinstead.
• At the A22/A25 roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A25 towards Westerham.
• Follow the A25 through Limpsfield, Oxted, Westerham, Brasted and Sundridge.
• At the traffic signal junction A25/M25 turn left to re-join the M25 towards Dartford Crossing.

More on M25 closure:

The M25 in Surrey is closed anti-clockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link) due to a serious collision.

All emergency services are working at the scene with Surrey police leading the response. 

Traffic Officers are assisting with strategic closures on the approach. 

Minor delays to Circle line

There are currently minor delays clockwise while TfL fixes a faulty train - good service anti-clockwise.

Part closure to Tram again

Until April 24, there will be no service between Wellesley Road / George Street and Beckenham Junction / Elmers End / New Addington.

Eastbound trams will operate from Wimbledon to Wellesley Road, and westbound trams will operate from George Street to Wimbledon.

Part closure on the Northern line again

There is no service between Golders Green and Edgware due to planned engineering works, with replacement buses operating, until April 11.

Severe delays to District line

There are currently severe delays between Tower Hill, Ealing Broadway and Richmond westbound only while TfL fixes a faulty train - good service on the rest of the line.

M25 closure warning due to crash

Drives are being warned of delays after the M25 was closed anti-clockwise between J6 (Godstone) and J5 (M26 link)

Warning of delays and cancellations as train driver industrial action begins

Train drivers will launch an overtime ban on Thursday ahead of a series of fresh strikes which will cause travel chaos for passengers.

Members of Aslef are embroiled in a 20-month dispute over jobs with no sign of a breakthrough and no plans for any talks.

Passengers are being advised to check before they travel, with some areas having no services on strike days.

A strike on Friday will hit Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands and London Northwestern.

On Saturday train drivers will walk out on Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, LNER, Heathrow Express, Northern and TransPennine Express.

A strike on Monday will affect c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express), Great Northern, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway (including the Island Line) and Thameslink.

Train operators warned that on strike days it is likely that little or no services will run across large areas of the network operated by the affected train companies.

Services are also likely to be disrupted and start later on the day immediately following a full strike day.

On days where an overtime ban is in place, the timetable for some train companies may be revised in advance or services subject to short-notice delay or cancellation on the day.

Passengers are warned to expect significant disruption and advised to plan ahead and check before they travel.

A law is now in place aimed at ensuring a minimum level of service during rail strikes but none of the operators involved in the Aslef dispute have applied to use it.

Bridge repairs expected to be done by Thursday after I-95 closure in Northeast Philly; Atlantic City Rail Service suspended

A section of northbound I-95 will be closed for several days after a tractor-trailer hit and damaged a railroad bridge.

A section of I-95 north in Philadelphia is closed after a tractor-trailer damaged a railroad bridge.

PennDot said I-95 in Northeast Philly at Exit 26 near the Betsy Ross Bridge will be closed several days for repairs.

NJ Transit's Atlantic City Rail Line service between 30th Street Station and Cherry Hill is also suspended.

In June, another part of I-95 in Northeast Philly was closed more than a week when a gasoline tanker collided with a bridge on an exit ramp and caught on fire. Here's how it impacted traffic .

Here's everything we know and don't know about the I-95 closure .

I-95 detours continue as Conrail works to repair a railroad bridge that was struck by a truck

For at least a few more days, northbound motorists on I-95 will be forced to detour around a damaged railroad bridge in Port Richmond on a route that looks like the flight path of a drunken bee.

A section of the interstate at Exit 26 near the Betsy Ross Bridge has been closed since a tractor-trailer hauling a mysterious (and massive) steel cylinder crashed into an overhead Conrail bridge Monday.

Rail bridge repair should be completed by Thursday, Conrail says

A Conrail representative said the company aims to have its damaged railroad bridge over I-95 repaired by Thursday, about 72 hours after a truck carrying an oversize load struck the span.

Northbound lanes on a section of the interstate in Port Richmond have been closed since about 1:30 p.m. Monday when a large flatbed truck carrying a massive steel cylinder crashed into the bridge.

Repair work continues on I-95 bridge as traffic builds

Work continued Tuesday afternoon on a Conrail railroad bridge damaged by a truck collision Monday that has forced the closure of I-95 north in Northeast Philadelphia.

A Conrail contractor was on site removing damaged materials, according to a PennDot spokesperson.

Map: Location of I-95 closure in Philadelphia

Northbound i-95 in northeast philly closed after truck hits bridge.

A section of northbound Interstate 95 in Northeast Philadelphia will be closed several days for repairs to a railroad bridge that was damaged by a tractor-trailer carrying an oversize load earlier in the day, PennDot spokesperson Brad Rudolph said.

The truck carrying what appeared to be a massive cylindrical object struck the Conrail bridge around 1:30 p.m. Monday on the northbound side near the interchange for the Betsy Ross Bridge and Aramingo Avenue, Rudolph said. No injuries were reported.

Philly trash collection could be delayed by I-95 closure

Detour information for i-95 closure.

Here is how PennDot is detouring traffic around the I-95 closure in Northeast Philly:

Drivers on I-95 north are being directed to use the Betsy Ross/Aramingo Avenue interchange, also known as Exit 26, and then turn right onto Aramingo Avenue and then turn right again onto Adams Avenue to take the ramp to I-95 north.

The ramp from Castor Avenue to northbound I-95 will be closed during the repair work.

Drivers are being directed to use Aramingo Avenue to access the I-95 north ramp at Adams Avenue.

Traffic analysts are recommending that drivers use the same backup routes that got them through the summer’s I-95 closure.

Atlantic City Rail Line service between Philly and Cherry Hill suspended

Atlantic City Rail Line service between 30th Street Station and Cherry Hill was suspended after the bridge strike.

NJ Transit said on its website that tickets and passes were being cross-honored by PATCO and substitute bus service was being provided from Philadelphia to Cherry Hill.

• Solar Eclipse 2024

See the 2024 Solar Eclipse’s Path of Totality

A total solar eclipse is expected to pass through the United States on April 8, 2024, giving stargazers across the country the opportunity to view the celestial phenomenon in which the sun is completely covered by the moon.

The eclipse will enter the U.S. in Texas and exit in Maine. It is the last time a total solar eclipse will be visible in the contiguous United States until 2044.

Here's what to know about the path of the eclipse and where you can see it.

Read More : How Animals and Nature React to an Eclipse

Where can you see the total solar eclipse?

The eclipse will cross through North America, passing over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. 

The eclipse will enter the United States in Texas, and travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse.

Much of the eclipse's visibility depends on the weather. A cloudy day could prevent visitors from seeing the spectacle altogether.

When does the solar eclipse start and end?

The solar eclipse will begin in Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT. It will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

The longest duration of totality—which is when the moon completely covers the sun — will be 4 minutes, 28 seconds, near Torreón, Mexico. Most places along the path of totality will see a totality duration between 3.5 and 4 minutes.

Read More : The Eclipse Could Bring $1.5 Billion Into States on the Path of Totality

Where’s the best place to see the total solar eclipse?

The best place to witness the event is along the path of totality. Thirteen states will be along the path of totality, and many towns across the country are preparing for the deluge of visitors— planning eclipse watch parties and events in the days leading up to totality.

In Rochester, NY, the Rochester Museum and Science Center is hosting a multi-day festival that includes a range of events and activities. Russellville, Arkansas will host an event with activities including live music, science presentations, tethered hot-air balloon rides, and telescope viewings.

More Must-Reads From TIME

• Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
• Passengers Are Flying up to 30 Hours to See Four Minutes of the Eclipse
• Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
• Essay: The Complicated Dread of Early Spring
• Why Walking Isn’t Enough When It Comes to Exercise
• The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
• The Best TV Shows to Watch on Peacock
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Write to Simmone Shah at [email protected]

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Biden says he will travel to Baltimore next week following bridge collapse: Updates

President Joe Biden said Friday he plans to visit Baltimore next week with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore following the recent collapse of  a major bridge that  killed six people  and  shut down a vital shipping port .

Biden confirmed next week’s trip to reporters after landing on Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews after returning from New York. Biden did not say which date he will make the short visit to Baltimore. The president has pledged his administration’s full support as Baltimore recovers from the bridge disaster and said he expects the federal government to cover the full cost to rebuild the bridge.

The announcement came as crews continued to assess  the immense wreckage in the Patapsco River  and as specialized salvage equipment began to arrive.

Some 1,100 personnel from the Army Corps of Engineers, along with highly specialized equipment, were deployed to remove the debris and reopen the nation's largest vehicle handling port. The Chesapeake 1000, the largest floating crane on the Eastern Seaboard, arrived in Baltimore at 11 p.m. Thursday, U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Carmen Caver told USA TODAY.

"This crane is massive," Moore said. "So is the challenge ahead of us."

Two cranes were on scene Friday with two more expected to arrive in the coming days, Moore said at a news conference. Three heavy-lift barges have also arrived in the Baltimore harbor to hoist the wreckage and haul it away, the Navy announced Friday. The governor said in the coming days, a total of seven floating cranes, 10 tug boats, nine barges, eight salvage vessels and five coast guard boats are expected. 

"Our team went out with the Coast Guard just a few hours ago," Moore said. "To go out there and see it up close, you realize just how daunting a task this is."

The rubble from the bridge, with sharp, “lethal” edges, clutters the floor of the shipping channel, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The wreckage, some of it 50 feet below the surface in turbid water, is being assessed before being cut into pieces, Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, told USA TODAY.

Surveys of the damage have been complicated by the river's strong current and low visibility, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath told reporters.

The bodies of four construction workers who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed are believed to still be inside vehicles in the wreckage. A crew of eight workers were on break at the time of impact. Two were rescued hours after the crash, and on Wednesday, two bodies were recovered from inside a pickup truck submerged in the river.

Officials suspended the recovery effort because of the dangerous conditions for the search teams. Moore said divers will continue the search when it's safe.

Developments:

∎ Parts of the mid-Atlantic region were under wind advisories Friday as gusts as high as 50 mph were forecast, according to the National Weather Service . Through 8 p.m. winds in the high 30s were expected to lash the Baltimore area.

∎ The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced it will host a virtual briefing on Monday to hear from industry leaders about the "implications of the port closure, strategies they are implementing to mitigate disruptions, and the path forward on a long-term solution," according to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce .

Officials outline steps to reopen Baltimore port

There are three phases that will allow the Baltimore port to reopen to ships, said Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath:

• Reopen the shipping channel
• Remove the Dali ship
• Remove the debris from the destroyed Key Bridge from the rest of the waterway

The first part of the plan is underway, with crews doing assessments on the damage both above and below the water, Gilreath said.

Moore said each step of the "remarkably complex operation" will have to be carefully planned. The piece of the bridge currently resting on top of the ship weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 tons, Moore said. It will need to be cut into pieces to be lifted away.

Will the Baltimore port closure impact car prices?

Last year, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 847,158 cars and light trucks, more than any other U.S. port, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office. With such an important shipping artery shut down until the wreckage is cleared – a process that some experts said could take well over a month – a big question emerged: Will those costs trickle down to car buyers?

The good news: Most experts said it is unlikely consumers will see a spike in the transaction prices for new vehicles in the near term. But in the longer term, it could get complicated.

"Several factors, including the length of the port’s closure and the capacity of alternate ports, are two key elements," Karl Brauer, executive analyst at  iSeeCars.com  in Los Angeles, told the Detroit Free Press , part of the USA TODAY Network. "Additional variables include how much a given brand relies on Baltimore for both vehicle and supply chain shipments. For instance, it’s likely a brand like Subaru, which is prominent in Northeast markets, faces a bigger impact than Hyundai, which has manufacturing hubs in the Southeast and sells a larger percentage of vehicles in Western states like California."

Bozzella said ways to mitigate supply chain disruptions were learned from the pandemic, when vehicle prices surged, which may quell any harsh impacts from the Baltimore port shutdown. Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds.com, said that while vehicle prices could rise, he emphasized that they would not jump as high as they did during the pandemic.

Tyson Jominy, vice president of data and analytics at J.D. Power, said, given the uncertainty around the port's closure, it's too soon to declare an impact on pricing. However, he is skeptical that an automaker could hike prices much in today’s environment for two reasons: competition and the fact that there are 1.7 million new vehicles on dealership lots across all brands right now, giving automakers sufficient inventory, at least for the two months.

"It is one port, so there are competitive ports where products are sent instead, which would take time and expense, but it’s not as if the entire Eastern Seaboard is down," Jominy said. "That’s the nature of logistics. The people who do this, crisis is their business.”

More: Baltimore bridge collapse closes automakers' top port: How it may impact new car prices

– Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press

Investigator recounts cargo ship's 'black box' audio

National Transportation Safety Board investigator  Marcel Muise  recounted audio discovered in the  cargo ship's "black box" at a news conference on Wednesday , providing the most detailed account of the moments leading up to the catastrophic wreck.

◾ Muise said several alarms were heard on the recording just before 1:25 a.m., followed about a minute later by steering commands and rudder orders.

◾ At 1:26:39 a.m., the pilot on duty made a radio call for assistance to tug boats in the area, and 45 seconds later, ordered the port anchor dropped.

◾ At 1:27:25 a.m., the pilot said on a radio call that Dali had lost power and was nearing the bridge. Around that same time, the officer on duty for the Maryland Transportation Authority told officers who were at both ends of the bridge for the road repairs to close traffic, which likely saved lives.

◾ At 1:29:33 a.m., as the powerless Dali was drifting at 8 mph, the VDR recorded "sounds consistent with the collision of the bridge," Muise said. Six seconds later, the pilot reported to the Coast Guard that the bridge was down.

– Minnah Arshad

14 containers with hazardous material 'impacted' by crash

Of the 56 containers loaded on the vessel that contained hazardous materials, 14 were impacted by the crash, according to a statement from the Unified Command , which includes the U.S. Coast Guard and the Maryland Department of the Environment.

The statement said an industrial hygienist assessed the containers and found that those affected by the collision were soap products, perfume products, or not otherwise specified resin. First responders also observed a "sheen" around the ship, leading them to establish a 6,000-foot safety zone as well as over 4,000 feet of containment boom to stop the sheen from spreading further in the river.

U.S. Coast Guard officials have said there is no immediate environmental threat and that response teams are conducting visual inspections of water quality and collecting samples for testing.

"Pollution and debris removal operations are on-going," a Unified Command statement published Thursday said. "At this time, no atmospheric hazards have been detected and the unified command continues to ensure safety."

Federal government provides $60M in funding for Baltimore bridge rebuild

The federal government is giving Maryland $60 million in emergency funds to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Moore announced at a news conference Thursday. Moore said the state had submitted the funding request earlier Thursday for "initial mobilization, operations and debris recovery efforts."

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration said in a news release that the request was approved within hours and the $60 million in “quick release” emergency relief funds will be immediately available for the Maryland Department of Transportation to rebuild the bridge.

The funds will be used as a down payment for initial costs, according to the Federal Highway Administration, and additional funding will be available as operations continue.

Federal Highway Administration Administrator Shailen Bhatt said the emergency funding would go toward managing traffic and supply chain disruptions, removing debris, and ultimately rebuilding the bridge.

While such funding can take days to approve, President Joe Biden had told reporters on Tuesday that he directed the federal government to "move heaven and earth" to quickly rebuild the bridge.

Experts have said the bridge could take years to rebuild and when it opened in 1977, it  cost $60.3 million – which is equivalent to $316 million today.

Bridge collapse expected to have major economic impacts

The Port of Baltimore is a critical area for America's economy and is ranked as the largest vehicle-handling port in the country. The bridge's collapse on Tuesday immediately blocked shipping lanes and forced the indefinite closure of the port.

The economic impact of the bridge's collapse was estimated to be $2 million in wages a day and 8,000 jobs, according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Between $100 million and $200 million of cargo passes through the port every day. About 4,000 commercial trucks use the bridge daily, and detours are expected to increase delivery times and fuel costs, according to Oxford Economics.

But with the port's closure, Buttigieg has warned that many longshore workers could be unemployed. Since the collapse, companies have rerouted shipments to other East Coast ports.

– Swapna Venugopal and Ramaswamy Paul Davidson

Contributing: Reuters

•   Weather

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Nor'easter dumps heavy, wet snow on maine bringing outages, damage statewide.

Downed trees and power lines are complicating power restoration and commuting for many parts of the state.

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Heavy, wet snow has been battering the state as a Nor'easter continues to move off the Gulf of Maine.

MAINE NOR'EASTER COVERAGE:

• More than 286,000 Maine customers without power Thursday evening into Friday morning
• Dozens of crashes reported on interstate, turnpike
• Multi-day restoration ahead for state
• Limington viewer reports over 17 inches of snow
• Roads across the state blocked, shut down due to trees, powerlines
• Kennebunk reached wind gusts of 70 mph
• Nor'easter to persist into Friday

STORM OUTLOOK:

The worst of the Nor'easter is behind us but snow will persist through Thursday night and possibly last into Friday. Additional snow accumulations will generally be between 1 and 3 inches Thursday night with little additional snow expected Friday. The strong and gusty winds have peaked and will gradually ease Friday.

>> From Bridgton to Topsham to South Portland: A look the Nor'easter

The storm finally moves away over the weekend with partial sunshine returning by Sunday. All eyes will then be on Monday's eclipse, with current cloud forecasts suggesting mostly clear skies—a promising outlook for the event.

POWER OUTAGES:

Central Maine Power pre-staged more than 450 line crews and 250 tree crews across their service area ahead of the storm and brought in more customer service representatives to help field calls from customers without power.

As of 12:15 a.m. Friday, CMP was reporting about 286,056 customers without power, and that number has slowly been going down all Thursday afternoon and evening. At its peak, about half of CMP's 675,603 customers were without power.

The total number of outages is significantly more than the ice storm that knocked out power in late March, when it took a few days to get service restored to all customers.

Jon Breed from CMP described the conditions as "incredibly hazardous" Thursday morning. He said it was still too dangerous to work on restoring power in most cases, though he did say that crews had restored power to about 55,000 customers.

ROAD CLOSURES:

With strong winds and heavy comes damage to powerlines and trees. Maine's Total Coverage has heard from multiple viewers of tree limbs across roadways and in yards as public works crews try to keep streets safe.

Given the hazardous conditions, travel is highly discouraged, with all individuals advised to consider delaying their plans. Maine Department of Transportation Director of Communication Paul Merrill said if you can afford to stay home, stay home.

"It's a heavy, wet, intense snowfall. We had crews out since the snow started falling," Merrill said.

If travel is essential, motorists should exercise extreme caution on slick roads and be wary of the potential for downed trees and power lines.

You can see our running list of road closures by click here.

TRAVEL IMPACTS

Nearly every flight and and out of the Portland International Jetport was canceled or delayed Thursday morning with impacts stretching into the afternoon. Friday morning, several flights were either canceled or delayed.

If you were hoping to take the bus to Boston, Concord Coach Lines said many runs between Portland and Boston were canceled.

Greater Portland Metro said Thursday morning there were impacts to the Husky Line with no service at the USM stop at the Gorham campus. They also said school trips on 9A/9B were not operating and there were delays on other routes. You can track updates on the METRO website .

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Thousands Without Power After Severe Weather Sweeps Through Ohio Valley

The storm system was blamed for two deaths, in Kentucky and Oklahoma. Forecasters expected the storm system to move into New England.

Storm Leaves Trail of Destruction in the Midwest

Severe weather toppled campers and trees in ohio and kentucky as parts of west virginia were placed under tornado watch..

Campers on their side. Oh, dear Lord.

By Lola Fadulu and Rebecca Carballo

Powerful storms that swept across the Ohio Valley before moving east over several days this week were blamed for at least two deaths and still left tens of thousands of customers without power on Wednesday, officials said.

Two storm-related deaths were reported, one in Oklahoma on Tuesday and one in Kentucky. Local officials did not provide details, though Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky said in a statement that the death in his state happened after a two-vehicle accident in Campbell County.

Several tornado warnings and a watch issued Wednesday for parts of Delaware, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia had expired by the evening hours. (A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible; a warning is issued when one is imminent.)

There were reports of extensive power outages remaining as of Wednesday night, with more than 251,000 customers without electricity in Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, according to Poweroutage.us , a site that tracks outages.

Share of customers without power

The severe weather was part of a powerful storm system that moved east on Wednesday after hitting parts of Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas on Monday and Tuesday.

In Kentucky, Mr. Beshear, who declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, said that the National Weather Service had confirmed that tornadoes had hit six Kentucky counties, and that storm-related damage had been reported in more than 20 counties.

“We have reports of substantial damage to a number of structures,” Mr. Beshear said.

Tornadoes in the Midwest and South

Locations of tornado sightings or damage reported by trained spotters.

In Conyers, Ga., a tornado downed trees and power lines early Wednesday, said Dan Morgan, the director of Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency. The tornado in Conyers, an Atlanta suburb, was confirmed by radar just after midnight, said Nikole Listemaa, a senior forecaster at the National Weather Service office serving the Atlanta area.

The same storm was expected to produce snow and wind in parts of the Northeast through Friday, according to the Weather Service. And on Thursday, heavy snow was expected to develop over parts of the Central Appalachians, the Weather Service said.

Weather officials encouraged people living in areas where a tornado watches escalate to tornado warnings to move to a safe place, such as a basement or the interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.

Forecasters on Monday also faced an outage that affected a key part of the nation’s weather tracking system, potentially making it harder for them to warn people about the severe weather. The service had returned to normal by 6:30 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday.

Forecasters expected the storm system to move into New England on Wednesday and Thursday. More than three million people were under a winter storm warning on Wednesday afternoon, many of them in New England. Boston will continue to face heavy rain, river flooding, wet snow and strong winds on Wednesday into Thursday. The threat of severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall ends on Thursday, forecasters said.

Orlando Mayorquín , Claire Moses and John Yoon contributed reporting.

Lola Fadulu reports on the New York City region for The Times. More about Lola Fadulu

Rebecca Carballo is a reporter based in New York. More about Rebecca Carballo

Explore Our Weather Coverage

Extreme Weather Maps: Track the possibility of extreme weather in the places that are important to you .

Blizzard or Nor’easter?: What’s the difference between these storms? How do you stay safe in either? Here’s what to know .

Tornado Alerts: A tornado warning demands instant action. Here’s what to do if one comes your way .

On the Road:  Safety experts shared some advice  on how snow-stranded drivers caught in a snowstorm can keep warm and collected. Their top tip? Be prepared.

Climate Change: What’s causing global warming? How can we fix it? Our F.A.Q. tackles your climate questions big and small .

Evacuating Pets: When disaster strikes, household pets’ lives are among the most vulnerable. You can avoid the worst by planning ahead .

Deadly April storm batters Northeast, snarling travel and knocking out power to half a million

A powerful April storm is hitting the Northeast on Thursday, dumping rain and snow with howling tropical force winds, prompting major airport delays and whiteout road conditions, and knocking out power to over half a million customers.

The strong storm system has been crawling across the U.S. since the weekend — and has already led to several weather-related deaths.

In Pennsylvania, two people died in separate incidents in which a tree fell on the car they were in during Wednesday’s storms. An elderly man died in Delaware County, and an elderly woman , described as in her early 80s, was also killed in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, NBC Philadelphia reported.

Another death was reported in Armonk, New York, Wednesday evening after a tree fell onto a car, killing the operator, North Castle police said. 

As of Thursday morning, the system is making its way out of the Northeast, with 5 million people under wind alerts across New England and 8 million under winter alerts.

The system will produce heavy, wet snow over north-central New England and northeast New York and pass through Maine on Thursday, the National Weather Service Prediction Center forecast. An additional 12 inches of snowfall is possible through Friday.

The system will create “significant impacts from heavy snow and wind,” and perilous travel due to whiteout conditions, snow-covered roads, tree damage and power outages, the NWS said.

Disrupted travel, crashes and power outages

Air travel has already been affected, with over 1,200 delays and over 300 cancellations inside, into or out of the U.S. reported, according to Flight Aware data — all amid a week of busy spring break bookings.

The storm system has also wreaked havoc on roads.

In New Hampshire, state troopers responded to three tractor-trailer rollover crashes in less than seven hours by late Wednesday. State police urged locals “to avoid unnecessary travel.” Massachusetts State Police also responded to multiple crashes Wednesday evening, describing road conditions as “poor.”

Powerful winds have whipped through the region since Wednesday, downing power lines and trees.

Nationally, over 500,000 customers are without power — including over 235,000 in Maine, 53,000 in West Virginia and over 51,000 in New York as of 8:30 a.m., according to PowerOutage.us.

By 2:30 p.m. ET, more than 640,000 were without power with over 334,000 out in Maine and over 173,000 out in New Hampshire.

In New Hampshire as of early Thursday, more than 100,000 customers were without power, the state’s division of homeland security and emergency management said. The agency’s State Emergency Operations Center has been activated in response to the storm.

New York State Electric and Gas, which serves the upstate region, said Wednesday’s severe weather led to 180 downed wires and more than 30 broken poles.

“NYSEG pre-staged more than 2,100 additional line workers and tree personnel across its service areas in preparation for the storm and are currently shifting resources to support its hardest hit areas,” the company said.

Utility company National Grid said it was responding to stormy conditions in upstate New York by increasing staffing, extending overnight shifts, bringing in additional resources from other states and Canada, and pre-staging crews in areas anticipated to be “most severely impacted.”

In Brookfield, Connecticut, a mother and her three kids narrowly escaped injury Wednesday when stormy winds caused a tree to fall on their car, completely crushing it.

In Maine, where heavy snow is forecast, Gov. Janet Mills directed all state offices to be closed Thursday and urged locals to “take proper precautions and to prepare for possible power outages.”

More wind, rain and snow

The storm has already drenched much of the Northeast, with a daily record of 1.75 inches recorded at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, 1.55 inches in Central Park, 1.49 inches in Philadelphia, and 1.84 inches in Newark, New Jersey.

Even Lady Liberty was hit by rumbling thunderstorms, struck by a bolt of lightning Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. in a stunning moment captured by a photographer from Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

The system has also brought with it dangerously high winds, with a gust of 67 mph reported Wednesday in Nantucket, Massachusetts, 64 mph in Stamford, Connecticut, 59 mph in Manhattan and 54 mph in Boston.

Winds are forecast to stay strong through Thursday, with isolated wind gusts of 50-60 mph possible especially for coastal New England.

Alerts for minor to moderate coastal flooding also remain in effect through Thursday evening for 26 million from the Delmarva Peninsula to the Maine coast.

The system will slowly move off the Northeast coast by Saturday.

Breaking News Reporter

Kathryn Prociv is a senior meteorologist and producer for NBC News. 

9 killed and 963 injured in Taiwan after 7.4-magnitude quake

TAIPEI, Taiwan— A 7.4- magnitude earthquake, followed by several strong aftershocks, struck off the east coast of Taiwan on Wednesday morning, killing at least nine people and injuring 963 others, according to Taiwan’s fire department. The earthquake, which damaged buildings and caused landslides, was the largest to hit Taiwan in 25 years and was also felt in parts of China. Overnight, at least 143 people remained trapped under rubble, authorities said, including more than 70 quarry workers.

• Key computer chip maker to resume full production after quake shut some facilities
• Dozens trapped in rock quarries, highway tunnel
• Major earthquakes have struck Taiwan before: A look back

Here's what to know:

Here's what to know, live coverage contributors 19.

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Essex traffic updates as Easter Bank Holiday weekend sees millions take to roads

The latest updates from the M11, M25, A12, A13, A127, A120 and other major roads across the county

• Updated 16:55, 7 APR 2023

Tens of thousands of extra journeys are taking place across Essex throughout the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend - with roads set to be busier than usual. UK drivers have been warned to expect severe queues on the roads with up to 17 million leisure trips by car predicted to be made over the next four days.

Queues are likely to be increased by engineering work on the railways. A survey of 2,400 UK drivers commissioned by the RAC suggested 2.7 million car journeys have been planned for Good Friday and Easter Sunday by drivers embarking on day trips or overnight stays.

Read More: Remote Essex village once had two train stations but now has none

EssexLive brought you you all the latest traffic news from across the county as it comes in throughout Good Friday (April 7).

• Want more traffic news? 11:14

End of live reporting for the day

Thank you for joining us for today's live traffic feed. Live reporting has now concluded for the day. For the latest traffic and travel news from across the county you can visit our homepage or sign up to our dedicated newsletter.

Delays continue on A12

The A12 Northbound is partially blocked due to obstruction on the road between J29 A120 (Crown interchange) and J30 B1029 Upper Street (Stratford St Mary). Traffic is currently reported to be coping well.

Obstruction on A12

Inrix, the traffic data company, said:

Reports of obstruction on the road on A12 Northbound from J29 A120 (Crown interchange) to J30 B1029 Upper Street (Stratford St Mary). Traffic is coping well."

'Incident' in Stapleford Abbots

Stapleford Road in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to emergency services incident between Hook Lane and A113 London Road ."

M11 lane closed

One lane is closed following a crash on the M11. Live updates here

One lane closed and queueing traffic due to accident, two cars involved on M11 Northbound before J8 A120 (Bishops Stortford). Lane three (of three) is closed ."

Traffic held on M25

All traffic being temporarily held and queueing traffic due to accident on M25 clockwise before J30 A13 (Lakeside / Purfleet)."

Road blocked in Wickham Bishops

Langford Road is closed following a crash. Updates on that incident here.

Crash in Wickham Bishops

Langford Road in both directions blocked, slow traffic due to accident, car and a motorcycle involved at Wickham Hall Lane."

Delays on A12

Queueing traffic on A12 London Road in both directions near J25 A120 ( Marks Tey ). In the roadworks area. Not helped by extra holiday traffic."

Broken down vehicle on M11 slip road

M11 Northbound exit slip road partially blocked, queueing traffic due to broken down vehicle at J8 A120 (Bishops Stortford).

Port of Dover latest

Many people will be heading out of Essex for a holiday abroad. Here is the latest from the Port of Dover - which last weekend declared a critical incident.

A Port of Dover spokesperson said:

As predicted Port of Dover is busy but thanks to the extra measures that have been put in place, the large volume of traffic arriving into the Port is flowing through as planned. Our Passenger Champions are ready at the Port to welcome and help you. Thank you for your patience."

Queues on the M11

There is queueing traffic for three miles on the M11 Northbound before J6 M25. Congestion to traffic back along the M25 anticlockwise as well.

Delays due to crash in Chelmsford

A1114 Princes Road Eastbound partially blocked, queueing traffic due to accident at B1007 Moulsham Street (Miami Roundabout)."

Want more traffic news?

Our dedicated traffic newsletter brings you the latest from the roads and rail networks across the county every week - along with breaking incidents you need to know about.

Delays around M25

Slow traffic due to earlier accident on exit slip road to the M11 northbound on M25 anticlockwise at J27 M11. Congestion to the M11 northbound as well, for a mile before the M25."

• bank holiday
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Information

Welcome to the Highways Service Information Centre

DigiGo has expanded!

Passengers can now use DigiGo in Great Dunmow, Stebbing, Great Saling, Great Canfield and surrounding areas.

Everyone within this new boundary can get to Broomfield Hospital, Braintree Town Centre, GP appointments in Great Dunmow and community meetups in surrounding villages.

This expansion comes after listening to passenger feedback and wanting to improve the network of potential journeys passengers can take💙

Book a DigiGo journey today via the TravelEssex app, or visit www.digigo.uk for more information!

TravelEssex - Journey Planning Made Simple

TravelEssex - a journey planning app that allows you to search for sustainable travel options throughout Essex - all in one place. You can plan journeys by walking, cycling and public transport, including train, bus and DigiGo .

It's easy to plan a journey on TravelEssex:

• Select where you want to go by typing in the name or address of the location, or select it on the map using a location marker
• Type in your start-point or enable location settings to go from ‘your current location’
• View all the sustainable transport options available to make this trip! This includes bus routes, train routes, walking and cycling
• Want to plan ahead? No problem! You can set your own departure date and time up to 7 days in advance.

You can view routes and services from multiple train and bus operators throughout Essex all in one place. This includes Greater Anglia, First, Arriva, Hedingham, Stephensons, GoAhead and C2C, to name a few!

You can also choose your ‘favourite’ locations, so planning your route is only a few clicks away. This could include your commute to work, getting to school, college or university, as well as meeting with friends.

Users can receive real-time updates, so any disruptions or service changes won’t come as a surprise.

TravelEssex is a journey planner for Essex residents in Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring and Uttlesford.

On the TravelEssex app, you can view every stop on bus and train routes, visualised clearly on our maps. You can also track your journey in real time via GPS.

Users can sync their calendars to the app, too. So, your journey to your next appointment, meetup, or meeting is planned in just a few clicks.

Over time, Essex County Council intends to add further functions to the app – giving you even more reasons to visit TravelEssex regularly!

TravelEssex Web App

Want to quickly search a journey? Try the journey planner web app below – it’ll show you all the sustainable travel options available (p.s. don’t forget to download the app too!)

If you live in parts of Essex between Chelmsford, Braintree, Little Dunmow, and Leaden Roding, you could also book journeys, track the vehicle, and pay for tickets for DigiGo  within the app! DigiGo  is a new mode of public transport that works on-demand, rather than having fixed bus routes of timetables. This puts you in control of your journey

Contact details

The best way to contact TravelEssex is via email at [email protected] for general queries, compliments or complaints.

Useful links 

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