Emergency services have been dealing with fallen trees, floods and roofs being blown off homes and garages

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A fallen tree closes the road between Groeslon and Carmel near Caernarfon
Thousands of homes were left without power today as the latest wave of bad weather hit Wales.

Widespread gales swept in last night and lasted much of the day, with the worst-hit areas being in north-west Wales.

Speeds of 109mph were recorded in Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula and fire crews had to make safe a structure on Tenby's South Parade.

Wind speeds also reached 85mph in Capel Curig, Snowdonia, 71mph at Pembrey, 62mph at Milford Haven and 52mph in Cardiff.

Thousands of homes and businesses were without power.

An estimated 4,500 homes on Anglesey and 2,500 in Gwynedd were without electricity after the storms struck.

Pockets were also affected in northeast Wales.

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© Keith MorrisFlooding and high winds across Wales
A train struck a fallen tree near Kidwelly. Only the driver was on the train at the time, but the line from Swansea to Carmarthen was closed while debris was moved.

The M48 Severn Bridge was closed due to high winds and fire crews with dealt with unsafe Christmas lights dangling from the John Lewis store in the centre of Cardiff.

North Wales Police closed Bangor High Street for some time because of falling tiles, with shoppers advised to avoid the area if possible.

In Swansea, residents escaped unhurt when gusts of more than 60mph blew the roof off a block of flats and shops in in Rheidol Avenue.

No-one was hurt but the road has been closed and one fire engine is at the scene. South Wales Fire service said it was called to the scene at 6.45am by residents in one of the flats.

In Abercynon, fire crews were called to a report of a roof being blown from a garage. Jennie Griffiths, of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the roof was in a dangerous position.

Speed restrictions were put in place on the Briton Ferry and Britannia bridges and motorists are being warned of strong winds on the M4 Kenfig Viaduct.

The A40 at Trecastle, Powys, was partially blocked by a fallen tree and there were problems at Parc Wern Road in Sketty, Swansea, because of fallen power cables. In North Wales the Llanberis Bypass was closed in both directions due to fallen tree.

The Coastguard service around Wales warned of "horrendous conditions" this morning with force 10 gales reported off Milford Haven and Holyhead.

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Milford Haven Coastguard was called to a 40ft fishing vessel which broke its moorings off St Justinian near St David's just after 7am. The boat, which had no one on board, was destroyed as it smashed against rocks. Coastguards are also monitoring an 88 metre vessel dragging its anchor just off the west coast of Anglesey this morning.

"Conditions are horrendous all along the coast," a Milford Haven Coastguard warned.

There were problems on the trains too with delays by up to 40 minutes in both directions between Holyhead and Llandudno Junction due to speed restrictions imposed as a result of high winds and damage caused to level crossings at both Valley and LlanfairPG

In South Wales, trains between Pontypridd and Aberdare were terminating at Mountain Ash due to signalling equipment damaged by flooding.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "The public should be prepared for disruption to transport and power supplies.

"The worst of the winds should ease on Friday evening."

There was an amber warning of wind in place for Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey until 6pm.

There was also a yellow warning for wind and rain in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Swansea and Wrexham until 9pm. It is feared that the bad weather will once again affect people travelling over the festive break as many make their way home.

It came just days after thousands of people were forced to flee their homes or spend Christmas without any power after storms battered the south of England and thousands more had their travel plans for Christmas disrupted.

In Wales, fire crews spent Monday night and Christmas Eve morning dealing with flooded properties and roads.

A woman and two babies were pulled to safety after a car became trapped in floodwater at Llanellen, Monmouthshire.

And the Mid and West Wales Fire Service said it had dealt with floods in Crickhowell, Carmarthen, Whitland, Narberth and Saundersfoot.

There was also flooding at Abergavenny and Llanbadoc, near Usk.

Fire crews pumped water from the Fountain Inn at Trelleck and cars became stuck in floodwater on the M4.

The Met Office spokesman added: "The public should be aware of the potential for disruption, especially where the high winds are combined with heavy rainfall. Please watch for possible updates to this warning, especially those who have travel plans."

There were three flood warnings and seven flood alerts in place and Natural Resources Wales warned members of the public to remain vigilant.

The flood warnings were in place on the River Towy at Abergwili, the River Monnow at Forge Road, Osbaston and Lower Dee Valley.

A spokesman for Natural Resources Wales said: "With the ground saturated after periods of heavy rain before Christmas, this further rainfall will quickly find its way into rivers and streams.

"There is also an ongoing risk that leaves and other debris brought down by strong winds could block drains and cause roads to flood.

"People travelling after the Christmas break are advised to allow extra time as driving conditions may be difficult."