05/12/2013 Newsround

This is Newsround on the day the UK is hit by a huge storm. We'll have

the latest on how the massive winds, power cuts and floods could be

affecting you. Let's start with the latest on the

powerful storm battering parts of the UK. Severe flood alerts have

been issued and thousands of people told to leave their homes all along

the east coast - from Northumberland in the North to Kent in the South.

Two people have been killed by high winds. Scotland was worst hit this

morning, and a lorry driver was killed in high winds. Gusts of up to

100 miles per hour left more than 100,000 people without power. Across

Britain, people are waiting to see if there's worse still to come. The

start of the storm as it hit Scotland. Howling winds toppled

trees and stopped traffic. BBC reporter Laura Bicker faced the

worst of it this morning. The winds are causing quite a few problems

this morning, not least for me standing up! Trains were stopped

from travelling and power lines ripped down, loving 100,000 homes

without power. More than 6,000 suffered the same fate in Northern

Ireland as huge waves lashed the mainland. As the storm spread south,

the East Coast of England was worst hit We've had 60-70 miles per hour

winds, gales have whipped the East Coast. But attention is turning to

what's happening out at sea and what this tidal surge will mean for

thousands of people, businesses and homes along the East Coast. With th

riseing water levels from Flintshire in Wales to Great Yarmouth in

Norfolk, people are preparing for what still could be to come.

Thousands have now been told to leave their homes as forecasters

warn that the most serious tidal surge in more than 60 years could

flood as many as 3,000 properties in the next 24 hours. So what is a

tidal surge and how could it affect us? Massive tidal summers don't

happen often here in the UK. But these kinds of conditions can

produce huge waves and the risk of flooding is much higher. This is how

they are created. Air puts pressure on everything around us, humans,

land and the sea. When the weather is wet and windy this pressure is

lower than normal and allows the surface of the water to rise up in a

watery bulge. Strong winds can then push this bulge towards the coast.

If this happens at the same time as high tide, huge waves with spill

over into the surrounding area and cause flooding. 60 years ago a

similar thing happened. The Great Storm of 1953 battered the East

Coast. 326 lives were lost as the sea flooded large areas. Today no

chances are being taken and Britain's better equipped to cope

with the extreme weather. As we watch and wait to see the full

effect of this tidal surge, the Environment Agency's doing

everything they can to protect as many people as possible.

Well, Saltny, which is in Flintshire in North Wales, is one of those

places waiting nervously. A short time ago BBC reporter Judith Moritz

sent us this report from there. The River Dee behind me has been raging

for the last few hours. It is within its banks. It hasn't overtopped the

side here. But the winds are very high as well,s you can see. I spoke

to one head teacher who told me she is keeping in touch with a network

of head teachers around this area just to check they should be keeping

schools open. The schools here are open at the moment but they need to

check that that is appropriate and that children can come and go

safely. Let's quickly catch up with the

day's other news, and the Chancellor, George Osbourne, has

given a big speech about the state of the UK economy today. He said the

country's money troubles were getting better, something that's

backed up by the latest figures, but that the job of improving things

wasn't yet finished. The opposition Labour Party say ordinary people are

still not feeling the benefit and more needs to be done.

He's the fastest man on two wheels and can ride at 50 mph. But despite

winning 25 sprint stages at the Tour de France is cyclist Mark Cavendish,

the Manx missile, faster than the world's biggest beast? Martin's been

finding out in a special Newsround challenge.

Number one, Cavendish versus a tiger. Tigers are pretty fast. But

50 mph? No, I think I'm faster. You are right. A tiger goes at 35 miles

per hour. Number two, the Peregrine falcon.

That's pretty fast. I would say that's faster. You are right. The

falcon goes at 535 miles per hour. Stay warm and safe wherever you are.

I'm back ever 7. Bye-bye.