Weathering the storm: Your experiences

Storms are once again battering Britain with gale force winds pounding the isles and heavy rain threatening to cause flooding in many parts.

There are almost 100 flood warnings still in place across Britain, with the weather causing widespread disruption to road, rail and ferry services.

Drivers are being asked to take extra care and, when winds are strong, to travel only on essential journeys.

How have you been affected by the severe weather? Are you counting the cost of the devastation on your business or home? Have you had a brush with the elements?

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This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

You've heard the saying 'pigs can fly' well mine did! After making sure that everything (or so I thought!) was battened down yesterday I went to work. When I returned it was to find that my life size fibre glass pig had been picked up by a gust of wind and 'flown' off the raised patio to the ground below. Dashed to pieces only a snout and a curly tail attached to buttocks and one leg remains. Yep pigs do fly - but unsuccessfully! Thank goodness it wasn't a real one, although I am just as bereft at its loss.
Pauline, England

You ain't seen nuthin till yuv been in an arkansas tornado....WHeeeew!
Hunter Magness, USA

I visited North Wales yesterday, in particular Betws-y-Coed. Whilst driving some heavily flooded back roads I managed to hit a puddle 12inches deep at about 20mph (I thought it was an inch or so deep!) The resultant bow wave went up over the bonnet, and into the air intake. Thus the engine took in the water and stopped. I had to jump out and push it to safety (fortunately I was travelling in convoy). The water was about an inch from coming over the sill when I opened the door!. I removed the injectors (diesel) and manually cranked the engine to expel the water. Then I had to remove the turbo intake hosing as that was full with water. Unfortunately the wind took some vital washers so we had to drive to the nearest Rover dealer in Colwyn Bay to get replacement parts, return and reassemble the engine. Then followed the 200 mile journey home. Which was punctuated by a stop at Halfords to get a new air filter as the old one was saturated and unusable.
Chris Cowdery, UK

Trying to get home was a nightmare

Scott Merrick, England

Trying to get home from Birmingham New Street was a nightmare. I should have got home at 3pm, but I got in at 8pm instead. A tree had fallen on the track. Virtually all trains were cancelled. I had three cancelled alone. I eventually got one but I had to get off 10 minutes later due to a broken down engine. Due to further delays and the Silverlink not picking passengers up from further away than Rugby (this was later reduced further to Northampton) I had to get a Virgin train to Milton Keynes (usually forbidden) then go back up the track on a Silverlink train to Northampton, five hours late. What a terrible day.
Scott Merrick, England

I live in Leeds and, although it was pretty windy and rainy on Monday and Friday, there wasn't serious structural damage where I live. My sympathies go out to those affected by this inclement, severe weather. However, I can't understand why people living on the coast persist in getting as near to the sea as possible - this seems suicidally stupid.
Cathy Harrison, England

I hope the storm ends quickly and my heart and sympathy goes to everyone affected by it.
Alvin Venture, USA

I have a scooter to get into and back from work and I spend all my time either fighting to stay out of ditches or grass verges or fighting to get out of the path of oncoming traffic. The wind buffets me so much I can hardly stay on my scooter at all.
Michele Cantwell, UK

The storms we had here at the end of last year were the worst for many years. Strong winds and violent seas caused major damage to homes, businesses, roads etc, but worse was the loss of life. Gradually things returned to normal, but let's not forget that there is always somebody in a worse situation.
martin, Mallorca,Spain

I have no sympathy for people who stand by piers while waves crash over, they are just asking for it.
Louise, England

Next time Louise is walking across the road perhaps she might like to consider the possible chances of her being involved in an accident with a car. She might then reconsider her comments. In all walks of life we are open to the vagarities of chance and freak events. I'm sure that the man on Brighton Pier had he known what the hand of fate was about to deal would not have ventured out there.
Trevor, Ireland

We were driving along Torquay sea front on friday,and unbelivably there were some idiots out windsurfing!These people are asking for trouble.
Nigel Rowell, devon england