Travel latest: Roads closed and flood warning on Yorkshire coast as Hurricane Katia blows in

An alert - which warns that flooding is possible - has been issued along the North Sea coast in Yorkshire between Bridlington and Barmston with people being told to be aware of overtopping spray and waves at high tide.

In South Yorkshire a fallen tree blocked the A61 at Hanover Way, Sheffield. The road has reopened but there were major delays in the area.

Strong winds have closed the trans-Pennine Woodhead Pass in both directions between Flouch roundabout in Langsett and the Gun Inn traffic lights in Mottram in Longdendale.

The Humber Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles and there were delays on the trains, with speed restrictions between Skipton and Carlisle and between York and Berwick-upon-Tweed, causing delays of up to an hour.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales could also see trees brought down with gusts of up to 70mph expected, forecasters said.

The high winds will be accompanied by heavy rain and the Environment Agency has issued several flood alerts for inland and coastal areas.

The western coast of Anglesey has also been issued with an alert with waves of up to two metres high expected to lash certain areas, while water levels at Derwent Water, Cumbria, remain high.

The second stage of the Tour of Britain was cancelled for safety reasons due to high winds across today’s competition route in Cumbria and Lancashire.

Tour of Britain riders were instead participating in an exhibition lap around Kendal, Cumbria, before reconvening tomorrow morning for the third stage of the race in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.

“We’ve had to take the decision based on the advice we’ve had from the police and Highways that it is unsafe to run today’s stage so it is being cancelled, unfortunately,” a Tour spokesman said.

“We’re going to do a lap around Kendal with the riders because Kendal is the least affected part of the route. There are thousands of people here in Kendal and we want to give them something to see. The high points (of the route) and particularly Blackpool on the sea front is unsafe, unfortunately.”

Billy Payne, forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “The brunt of the the wind will go through central and southern Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and North Wales.

“Gusts are from 60-70mph in some places, possibly higher, especially in exposed places in parts of western Scotland like the islands and hilly areas.

“It will be quite windy in the south (of England) too with gusts of 40-50mph.

“There will be quite a lot of rain, perhaps heavy outbreaks over the next couple of days.

“The heavy rain will be mostly confined to the north and west of Scotland today and tomorrow. There is a risk of some flooding in north-west Scotland with the high rainfall totals.”

Capel Curig in North Wales had a gust of 73mph at 05.00 this morning.

Forecasters said there was potential for damage to trees and other structural problems.

Ferry services and transport routes were already reporting disruption this morning.

The UK sees a storm of this strength around once per year, and the remnants of a hurricane reach Britain once every few years, MeteoGroup said.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for today, warning people in Northern Ireland, central and south west Scotland and north west and north east England to be prepared.

The warning, classed as an amber alert, said: “The remains of Hurricane Katia are expected to come across the UK on Monday bringing a spell of very windy weather.

“There remains some uncertainty about its track and intensity, though with increasing indications that Scotland and Northern Ireland are most likely to bear the brunt.

“The public should be aware of the risk of disruption to transport and of the possibility of damage to trees and structures.”

Katia is the second major hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season and was rated as a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale at its peak.

The scale rates hurricanes from one to five, with five being the strongest.

The cycling Tour of Britain also faces disruption with riders tackling a route from Kendal to Blackpool, an area likely to be affected by the inclement weather conditions.

People can register for free flood warnings for their area at www.environment-agency.gov.uk or by calling 0845 988 1188 or 0845 602 6340.