London, Jan 18 (DPA) Europe is battling bad weather. While storms and rain battered large parts of Britain early Thursday, heavy rains ahead of an approaching storm hit the Netherlands as Germany braced for a major one.In Britain police reported that one man died when his vehicle was hit by a falling tree.Gale force winds swept through much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland overnight while Scotland recorded the first major snowfall of 2007 in the Highlands.The weather office forecast more rain and gusty winds of up to 110 kilometres an hour that could disrupt road and rail travel.In the south, ferry services to the Isle of Wight have been cancelled and Southampton Container Terminal closed, while power lines came down in parts of Cornwall in the extreme southwest of Britain.Heavy rains ahead of an approaching storm hit the Netherlands, leading the authorities to partially close an important motorway owing to flooding.Air traffic control predicted serious delays at Schiphol Airport, but said morning peak flights would not be hit as the storm from the southwest would hit only later in the day. Some ferry services were also cancelled.The weather bureau predicted winds up to 130 kilometres an hour across the whole country, with the storm peaking in late afternoon.A powerful storm with winds of up to 120 Km per hour reached the western part of Germany on Thursday, bringing predictions of flooding and uprooted trees.Meteorologists said the storm, named Kyrill, was the most powerful to hit Germany in more than four years.
(c) Indo-Asian News Service
