Storm Darragh has unleashed widespread disruption across UK sporting events, with Everton’s clash with rivals Liverpool the latest to be cancelled.
The high-profile Merseyside derby, scheduled for Saturday lunchtime, became the first latest high-profile casualty of the storm due to safety concerns
Both clubs have issued statements regarding the postponement, urging fans to stay at home as dangerous weather conditions persist.
The storm’s impact has extended beyond football, forcing the cancellation of numerous sporting events nationwide, including rugby matches and prestigious horse racing meets.
Everton’s match against Liverpool was postponed
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Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly has warned of severe impacts from Storm Darragh, particularly during the early hours of Saturday morning.
“In the red warning area, we could see wind gusts of up to 90 miles per hour along the coasts of west and south Wales as well as funnelling through the Bristol Channel, with some very large waves on exposed beaches,” Kelly said.
He cautioned that while some areas might experience a quiet start to Saturday, “winds will quickly increase from the west through the day.”
Despite lower likelihood of impacts outside red and amber warning areas, Kelly stressed that effects could be felt across the entire country.
The storm has forced widespread cancellations across multiple football divisions.
Storm Darragh has also caused damage at Aintree
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In the Championship, matches at Plymouth and Cardiff have been called off, while League One has seen the postponement of Bristol Rovers versus Bolton Wanderers.
League Two fixtures have also been impacted, with Newport County’s match against Carlisle United called off.
The disruption has been particularly severe in Wales, where all football matches have been suspended due to the extreme weather conditions.
Officials are continuing to monitor conditions, with further updates expected throughout the day.
The disruption has extended significantly into other sports, with rugby bearing a major impact.
All Welsh Rugby matches have been cancelled as Storm Darragh continues to batter the region.
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Two Championship fixtures have been postponed
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The horse racing calendar has also been severely affected, with major events forced to cancel.
Aintree’s Becher Chase Day has been postponed due to the adverse weather conditions.
Chepstow’s Party Race Day has also fallen victim to the storm, with organisers confirming its cancellation.
Race meets across the country have undergone ground inspections, with more cancellations possible as the storm progresses.